The Berkshire Grown Guide to Local Food & Farms 2024 is a great resource for finding fresh, locally grown and prodcued food around the Berkshires. Find local farms growing specialty crops, offering CSA’s, accept SNAP and other benefits. Learn where you can shop for fresh food at local farm stores and at the various Berkshire Farmers Markets. The Guide also features speacialty food producers and grocers, restaurants and lodging selling farm fresh products. Visit the Community Food Pantries section if you need assistance accessing food.
Read how farmers markets offer a terrific way to connect with local farmers and buy fresh, locally grown, nutritious food. At farmers markets in the Berkshires, vendors supply an abundance of local food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, cheese, honey and maple syrup, mushrooms, and baked goods. Specialty farm products like herbs, condiments, candles, soap, animal hides, and wool round out the markets.
Read how a truly resilient local food system provides everyone equitable access to fresh local food – a system where everyone’s connection to food stretches beyond subsistence to a future of abundance. Rooted in our deep appreciation of everything that local farmers provide, Berkshire Grown’s work to “Keep Farmers Farming” depends on a community-wide commitment to build and sustain a resilient local food system, including changes in individual eating habits, sustainable agricultural planning, and governmental policies that secure the future availability of an affordable, sustainable, locally-sourced food supply.
Please support our generous advertisers whose businesses help Berkshire Grown build a thriving, equitable local food sytem!
New England Dairy Launches 2nd Round of Dairy Promotion Grant
New England Dairy has launched the second round of its 2024 Dairy Promotion Grant program for farmers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut. More than $25,000 has already been awarded to 16 farmer-led dairy promotion projects this year. Dairy farmers and dairy-focused groups are eligible to apply for grant funding of up to $2,400 annually. The funding supports activities that improve public perception of dairy farming and increase the consumption of local dairy products. New England Dairy is particularly focused on engaging youth and millennials to foster connections between farmers and local consumers. Clickhere for more!
This grant will provide funds for dairy processors, dairy producer associations, packaging manufacturers, supply chain businesses, educational research institutions, and technical assistance providers to support innovation for Northeast dairy processors across a variety of scales. Open to applicants in 11 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Projects funded through this grant must address at least one of the following areas:
Packaging initiatives that prioritize sustainability, scalability, and marketability of packaging solutions for small and mid-sized processors. Packaging projects may address topics such as packaging lifecycle analysis, packaging materials, costs of conversion, supply chain logistics, research and development, packaging design, processor packaging changeovers, and infrastructure upgrades.
Novel processing solutions such as innovation in sourcing, product development, alternative production solutions, distribution and supply chain logistics, operations, workforce development or employee welfare, and marketing or consumer experience.
Projects that increase collaboration across the dairy sector or increase partnerships between sectors to ensure the greatest number of dairy businesses benefit.
Grants will range from $75,000 to $350,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required. Total funds available: $1,500,000.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $300,000 in grant funding available through the Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program (SPMGP). Grant applications are currently being accepted through Sept. 30, 2024.
Applications are being accepted through September 30, 2024. A “Call for Projects” has been announced through industry media and USDA.
Please email sheepgrants@nsiic.org to request an application. The application and further instructions will be sent right away.
Grow grants prioritize support for community groups who represent a broad range of voices in their community and who are not being reached by other funders. Applicants do not need to be 501(c)(3) organizations. Massachusetts farmers markets have received funding in their last rounds.
State grant to support Massachusetts farmers markets through strategic planning, promotion, marketing, consumer education, and infrastructure needs. An informational webinar will be held for interested applicants on Friday, September 6, at 2pm. To access the webinar, register here.
State grants for the arts, administered through local cultural councils. Great for paying for musicians to perform at your market. Find your town’s local cultural council here. An information session will be held Thursday, September 5th at 6pm. Register for the information session here.
Application deadline: October 16, 2024
Looking for a Grant Writer?
Be sure to check out MDAR’s Agricultural Grant Writing Assistance List
As part of our commitment to farmer support and Environmental Justice, MDAR has posted a first edition of the Agricultural Grant Writing Assistance List. This is a list of organizations and individuals who offer programs and services to assist individuals, farms/farmers, or organizations with grant writing and project management. Assistance with grant writing support was a key need uncovered in listening sessions with partner farmers and organizations, and while MDAR cannot assist farmer with grant writing, our hope is that this directory will be a helpful resource to Massachusetts farmers.
MDAR will be publishing updates to the list periodically, and we encourage individuals and organizations who provide grant writing, and related services, to respond to this form (*new* — organizations and individuals can now complete an online form instead of responding through CommBuys).
IMPORTANT NOTE: The grant applicant will be responsible for contacting and screening any consultant they may hire and arranging their own agreements/contracts, including fee structures (if any). MDAR emphasizes that successful grant applications require significant involvement from the applicant. Using a vendor from this list does not provide any MDAR applicant with an advantage during the evaluation process. Utilizing grant writing services is not required or expected for applicants of MDAR grants.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program
The 2024 Organic Cost Share Reimbursement application period is now open!
The deadline to submit applications is December 16, 2024.
MDAR is authorized by the USDA – Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to reimburse certified Organic Crop and Livestock Producers and Handlers (processors) for the Federal 2024 Fiscal Year. Reimbursements are limited to 75% (seventy-five percent) of an operation’s certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 (seven hundred fifty dollars) of certification, for the program year. Organic operations certified for crops, wild crops, livestock and handlers are eligible to participate.
MDAR’s Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP) has funds to help farms cover audits, energy efficient projects, and select renewable energy projects. You will need a technical assessment to file an energy grant application whether with MDAR or USDA. MFEP pays 75% of the technical assessment, first come, first served.
Contact our MFEP now for more information through the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), our partner helping us administer the MFEP: 413-727-3090, info@massfarmenergy.com, or visit www.massfarmenergy.com, and submit a Request Form, and we will contact you.
Thinking about learning new processes while networking with other farmers and food producers over the winter months? Berkshire Grown will offer these upcoming workshops. Pre-registration is required for all workshops and must be done by noon the day before the workshop date. A link to attend the online workshops will be emailed the day prior to the workshop date. Location, directions and details about the Labor Movement in person workshop on April 10, 2024 will be emailed on April 9, 2024.
Be sure to contact Berkshire Grown at buylocal@berkshiregrown.org if you need more information or call (413) 528-0041, Monday through Friday 9am-3pm. Register for workshops here.
Incorporating Perennial Crops on Your Farm with Regenerative Design Group
This Workshop took place on Thursday, January 25, 2024. (Now closed to registration.)
Agroforestry crops and practices have the potential to help farmers manage the land they are farming in different ways, providing new opportunities to grow emerging crops that can be incorporated into existing markets, or help boost ecological and financial resiliency. Attendees will hear from Jono Neiger of Regenerative Design Group (RDG) and Big River Chestnuts about potential perennial crops, their management, and how practices can be defined and funded (through NRCS, MDAR or other sources).
With Farmer Co-Presenters
Seva Water; Nutwood Farm / Regenerative Design Group
Babette Wils; Bigfoot Food Forest
Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with Jono and the NOFA agroforestry cohort farmers to learn more about technical assistance opportunities available in the field to help design and implement perennial crops and agroforestry practices.
Regenerative Design Group is a worker-owned ecological design practice dedicated to working with farm owners to develop diverse agroecological and agroforestry systems that support the farm’s social, environmental, and economic goals.
Two-Part Grant Writing Workshop. How to read and interpret grant applications.
Session 1, Wednesday, February 21, 2024 with follow up Session 2, Wednesday, March 6, 2024
11AM-1PM Online, Registration is for both sessions. Workshop may not be taken as individaul sessions.
Fee: $40 Members, $60 Non-members
Maximum 15 Students
Berkshire Grown will host a virtual two-part grant writing training, led by Kara Weinstein, for farmers and food producers looking to develop an understanding of how to read and interpret grant applications, and the basic story-telling and writing skills to submit successful grant applications. The first session on February 21, 2024 will cover researching prospects, understanding the Request for Proposals (RFP) process, how to write a compelling needs statement, effective outcomes and evaluations, and developing project budgets. At the end of the first session participants will be assigned homework to draft a response to a sample proposal question.
In the second session on March 6, 2024, participants will share their responses, and receive feedback on how to improve them, coming away with an outline for a boiler plate of usable text for grant applications.
Kara is a food systems consultant based in Kingston, NY. As founder of KHW Strategies, she works with food systems and sustainable agriculture operators and nonprofits on strategic vision, operations, grant writing and execution, and project management. She has a background in corporate sustainability + ESG consulting and communications. Kara holds a Master’s in Food Systems from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Environmental Policy and Culture from Northwestern University.
SNAP/HIP-Best Practices and Solutions to Common Issues
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Online: 6-7:30PM
Fee: $20 Members, $30 non-members
Join Berkshire Grown and Zoey Sloate to learn best practices on incorporating SNAP into your business in a way that creates a welcoming space.
Attendees will come away with marketing best practices and models of inclusive language to explain SNAP, HIP, & coupons. Attendees will also learn additional tools to augment how you can accept SNAP: (1) accepting SNAP/HIP for a CSA, (2) accepting SNAP online, (3) common troubleshooting issues and solutions. There will also be time for questions and discussion. In advance of the workshop, Berkshire Grown will solicit a few points of interest and discussion topics from attendees to guide conversation topics.
Zoey lives in Massachusetts and has been helping businesses with SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior FMNP coupons for five years – her experience includes technical setup, government approval, troubleshooting, and developing welcoming spaces.
Labor Movement with Cynthia Flores
“When you move well, you work well.”
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
1-3PM.
In-person workshop at Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, MA
Limited to 15 students (Sorry, no drop-ins!)
Cost: $20 Members, $30 Non-members
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health and wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career.
Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health and wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career.
Movement Workshops address BETTER body mechanics and movement patterns related to farm tasks to increase productivity and help decrease workplace injuries. Time will be spent in an interactive atmosphere moving through basic movement patterns. Every attendee will leave with tips focused on ways to improve their overall movement patterning and work-related well-being. Time will be allotted for questions and some detailed discussion. Learn more about Cynthia’s mission at: https://www.labor-movement.com/
Cynthia Flores founded Labor-Movement LLC in 2020 with the mission of working with farmers and farmworkers to train body mechanics and movement patterns used in farming.
MDAR is seeking reports from impacted farms to evaluate the extent of damage from recent flooding. Please contact MDAR Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff Alisha Bouchard and Director of Produce Safety Michael Botelho with your report. We also encourage you to reach out to Sue Scheufele (508 397 3361) at UMass Extension so that they can also be made aware of the extent of damages.
MA Farm Service Agency is also asking any affected producers to report flood damage to their FSA County Office as soon as possible. Reporting damages is important for ensuring relevant FSA programming is made available to eligible producers. Also be reminded that several programs require timely reporting of losses/adverse situations in order to maintain eligibility. To report damage, please contact your local County Office.
Handling Flooded Produce: What Farmers Need to Know
Additionally, MDAR has begun compiling a resource page and potential actions for impacted farmers to take. This list will also be updated as we become aware of additional resources.
State Agricultural Resources Commissioner Randle Tours Storm-Damaged Farms in Western Massachusetts
BOSTON — Following devastating storms that washed out roads and flooded fields and farms, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle visited Western Massachusetts two days this week to meet with farmers impacted by the storm. Commissioner Randle joined state and local officials to survey the damage and discuss how the state could help communities in recovery and mitigation efforts.
On Wednesday, Commissioner Randle met with 30 farmers in Deerfield, Hadley, Hatfield, and Northampton, while other MDAR staff were on the ground throughout the Valley to assess the damage and provide technical assistance. The Commissioner also joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Rural Affairs Director Anne Gobi in Conway on Thursday to offer support.
Although MDAR is still assessing the damage, the agency estimates at least 75 farms have been impacted, with over 1,000 acres of crop losses. That number will likely climb since land remains submerged and inaccessible due to standing water, with more rain forecasted. Today, MDAR’s Produce Safety team will visit farms in Deerfield, Florence, Hadley, Sunderland, and Whately to complete assessments of impacted farms. Read MDAR’s Press Release here.
(Vermont) Flood Related Resources for Farmers:
Thank you to Food Solutions New England for compiling this list.
NOFA will award up to $2,500 in grants per farm affected by natural and unnatural disasters. They are also gathering information to coordinate support and recovery efforts for farmers. If you are a farmer, please share information here.
Farm First has dedicated farmer peers available to talk to any farmers this week. Farmers can access our resource coordinator, counselor, or peers by contacting:
(802) 318-5538 during daytime work hours (8:00 AM-4:30 PM M-F)
The Baker-Polito Administration earlier this week announced $22.5 million in funding to food producers across the Commonwealth, continuing ongoing efforts to address food insecurity issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program seeks to ensure local food producers are better connected to a robust and resilient food supply system in order to mitigate future food supply and distribution issues. This year’s recipients of grant funding represent a variety of sectors, including farms, fisheries, schools, nonprofits, for profits, food pantries, municipalities, distributors/suppliers, and other entities. Thirteen grants were awarded in the Berkshires.
In Pittsfield, Roots Rising was awarded funding toward building a new Youth Farm which will serve as a training ground for youth, a community and food hub, and a headquarters for the organization. Roots Rising’s Youth Farm will be teen-powered and community centered, and will be an innovative approach to youth empowerment, food justice and sustainable development.
Full Well Farm in Adams will use the funds to build a climate battery heated greenhouse. The infrastructure improvement “will allow us to produce vegetables year-round, improve our production of summer favorites like tomatoes, and allow us to move our seedling production to our own farm rather than renting space”, said farmers Meg Bantle and Laura Tupper-Palches.
“Ensuring children, their families, and all individuals have access to healthy, local food products is critical, particularly as so many continue to be detrimentally impacted by the pandemic,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our Administration is proud to work so closely with the Commonwealth’s farmers, food distributors, non-profit organizations, and others as we partner to strengthen the state’s food supply chains.”
Prior awardees have been able to make local, fresh food production more efficient and accessible, lower the production cost, and increase distributors’ ability to partner with SNAP, EBT, and other organizations.
Sweet Brook Farm in Williamstown will use the award to purchase a new cattle corral system. “As an emerging beef producer in Berkshire County,” said farmer Sarah Lipinski, “Sweet Brook Farm hopes to use these funds to expand our operations to further support the demand for local, sustainable foods.”
Lanesborough’s Red Shirt Farm received FSIG funds to construct a new farm store and commercial kitchen. Farmer Jim Schultz said that the store will serve as “a conduit for connecting our farm with the community”, and the commercial kitchen will help the farm reduce food waste by turning excess produce into value-added products.
Berkshire Grown is proud to be among this year’s awardees, alongside many outstanding farmers and organizations working to address food insecurity in the region. As part of their Farm to Food Access program, Berkshire Grown maintains cooler and freezer for crop and meat storage. “We will use the FSIG funds to purchase a back-up generator for the walk-in, a temperature monitor and alert system, and funds to pour a concreate delivery platform outside the cooler door. This allows us to make large-scale crop purchases from local farmers and store the food until pick-up by food pantries and community kitchens,” says Executive Director Margaret Moulton.
The awardees for this round of FSIG grants in the Berkshire region include:
Berkshire Grown, Inc. (Great Barrington): Temperature control support for walk-in cooler
Berkshire Wildflower Honey LLC dba Mill River Farm (Great Barrington)
Fairfields Dairy Farm LLC (Williamstown): upgrade to automatic milking system
Full Well Farm LLC (Adams): Climate battery greenhouse
Greenagers, Inc. (South Egremont): infrastructure and equipment to improve food storage capacity
Holiday Brook Farm LLC (Dalton): season-extending high tunnel
Ian Allen Farms (Sheffield)
North Plain Farm (Housatonic): improvements to Farm Store
Olsen Farm (Lanesborough): two hoop houses
Red Shirt Farm (Lanesborough): build-out of Farm Store and commercial kitchen
Roots Rising (Pittsfield): Toward expenses related to establishing a Youth Farm
Sweet Brook Beef Company (Williamstown): New cattle corral system
Woven Roots Farm (Tyringham): improvements to strengthen vegetable production/distribution capacity, expand wash/pack and storage infrastructures
Since 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded over $58 million in grants to 507 projects across the Commonwealth through the grant program. For more information regarding the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, please visit the program’s webpage.
Sweet Brook Farm herd of cattle in paddock, Williamstown, MA.
Watch our short new 2021 video! You will hear from our community partners and local farmers about how your support of Berkshire Grown keeps farmers farming and gets fresh local food to those in need. As someone who follows the work of Berkshire Grown, you understand the critical importance of our work to sustain a resilient food system in the Berkshires – work that connects Berkshire farmers with consumers and provides access to fresh local food for all members of the community. 2021 proved to be a busy and productive year for Berkshire Grown. With your support, Berkshire Grown will continued its work to strengthen our local food web.
The Berkshire Grown Guide to Local Food & Farms 2024 is a great resource for finding fresh, locally grown and prodcued food around the Berkshires. Find local farms growing specialty crops, offering CSA’s, accept SNAP and other benefits. Learn where you can shop for fresh food at local farm stores and at the various Berkshire Farmers Markets. The Guide also features speacialty food producers and grocers, restaurants and lodging selling farm fresh products. Visit the Community Food Pantries section if you need assistance accessing food.
