Executive Summary The Covid-19 pandemic has brought food resiliency to the forefront of discussions pertaining to food systems. To make the local food system better able to adapt to disruptions, community leaders and policy makers need to understand where the food system needs strengthening and where resources should be focused. This report is a resource to support the Holyoke Food & Equity Coalition’s efforts to increase the Holyoke food system’s resilience, improve healthy food access for residents, and increase opportunities for food-related jobs in the community. This document integrates relevant past research and puts forth additional recommendations based on analyses of food access, the potential for food production, and possible models for city-wide composting. Geographic information systems (GIS) spatial analysis and other tools were used.
Food Production Potential Holyoke has a living legacy of community gardens throughout its downtown neighborhoods. While current zoning ordinances limit small-scale production and sales of agricultural products for many residents, there is ample space available for community organizations and residents to expand outdoor production, both in-ground and on impervious surfaces. Additionally, there are nearly 140 acres suitable for large-scale indoor agriculture in the industrial buildings downtown. These sections present criteria for outdoor and indoor production areas and include maps depicting sites that meet these criteria.
Initiating a Composting Program Holyoke has been trying to find a site suitable for a community composting operation but has had difficulty finding a site. A community-scale composting system would suit the size limitations present in Holyoke. Aerated static piles and bioreactor systems have promise, given the city’s urban conditions. This chapter develops initial physical criteria for composting models appropriate to Holyoke, in particular aerated static piles and bioreactor systems, and includes maps depicting sites in the city that meet these criteria.
Healthy Food Access The residents of Holyoke face many barriers to accessing healthy, affordable food. High rates of poverty, low rates of vehicle ownership, and a high proportion of renter-occupied housing limit residents’ ability to, respectively, purchase healthy foods, conveniently reach grocery stores, and produce their own food at home. Analysis of the physical barriers to healthy food access reveals that transportation and mobility are key obstacles. This chapter provides a spatial picture of the number, type, and location of stores, along with physical barriers to reaching these stores, and recommendations for improving food access.
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A SPATIAL ANALYSIS SUPPORTING HOLYOKE’S FOOD SYSTEM
