BOSTON – The Baker administration announced $300,000 in grants to support the efforts of six Buy Local organizations for projects which seek to connect food producers to their surrounding communities in western, central, northeastern and southeastern Massachusetts.
“Buy Local organizations are committed to the idea that knowing where your food comes from makes both good health and economic sense,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Through these grants, this administration demonstrates its commitment to supporting a sustainable local food system while at the same time generating consumer awareness and demand for locally grown food products.”
“The Buy Local program ensures that Massachusetts residents have access to nutritious, locally grown products, and provides opportunities for continued economic and agricultural development throughout the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The grants awarded by the Baker-Polito Administration will provide farmers and food producers with the resources necessary to make nutritious, locally-sourced food options available statewide.”
The Commonwealth’s Buy Local organizations, originally formed to identify and address marketing challenges in specific geographical communities across the Commonwealth, have grown to be known as a sustainable business movement that includes innovative marketing and educational programs.
“This grant funding will allow our regional Buy Local partners to continue to work with DAR to promote and support local agricultural businesses while also ensuring consumers will have access to nutritious Massachusetts grown products,” said Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux.
The following projects have been funded through this year’s grants:
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) – $59,250 – CISA will increase cash receipts for food producers in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties through design and distribution of printed and electronic educational and informational materials with a new marketing campaign called “local food casino online for all.” CISA will collaborate with Buy Local organizations across Massachusetts.
Berkshire Grown – $27,000 – Berkshire Grown will provide business assistance to food producers in Berkshire County, and increase both the amount of land being farmed and the number of farmers on the land, through collaboration with Berkshire Agricultural Ventures.
“We are so pleased to receive this vital grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources,” said Philip Korman, Executive Director of CISA. “These funds will enable CISA to encourage more of the 700,000 residents of our region to support local agriculture and support collaboration of all ‘Buy Local’ organizations in the state. The impact will be tremendous with more farmers able to make a living and more residents buying from their neighbor farmers, and the result will be stronger farms, local economies and communities.”
Buy Local groups across the Commonwealth offer members and consumers a variety of resources. From technical assistance information to marketing assistance; consumers, farmers, and food producers alike can find resources to help them grow, buy, cook, and eat wholesome locally grown products.
