“First we eat, then we do everything else.” -M.F.K. Fisher

Regardless of who you are or where you live, nothing brings people, families and communities together more than food. It’s central to life, culture, happiness and health. For New Englanders, agriculture is in our DNA. We are blessed with some of the richest farmland and bountiful seas in the world right here in our tiny slice of the country.

This important connection between people, food and health, and our commitment to healthy living, makes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts the proud health and wellness partner of the Boston Public Market and its kitchen.

There’s a lot to love about the local food the 35+ market vendors and proprietors will be selling. We know it will be delicious. But there’s much to love beyond taste. At its core, the Boston Public Market will serve as a critical civic institution that will nurture and support our region’s agrarian roots, connect Bostonians and visitors from all walks of life to nourishing and delicious food, and deepen and broaden our community’s understanding about how and where our food is grown. The market, its vendors, and its partners appreciate that the best food is nutritious, equitable, affordable, local, sustainable, AND tastes good.

As a health plan focused on the well-being of our 2.8 million members and the community, we know how healthy eating choices can make significant positive changes to our well-being. We also know that too often, making healthy food choices is in conflict with the cost of food. The market’s support of food access programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could have a profound effect for local consumers. While the positive impacts of programs such as SNAP are clear, for those choices to take root and become habit, access to food must be coupled with education. That’s why we are a proud sponsor of the market’s KITCHEN programming, as it engages consumers in learning about how the food is grown, processed, prepared and cooked.

Recently, Blue Cross moved its headquarters into Boston’s Back Bay. Along with the physical move, we established a set of guiding principles that serve as the foundation for all of our food-related programs and offerings, centered on health, quality, sustainability and community. We are excited that the market will introduce new healthy foods and habits to our employees and the Greater Boston community.