Baker-Polito Administration Awards $300,000 to Support Agricultural Buy Local Organizations
BOSTON – November 21, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $300,000 in grants to the Commonwealth’s regional Buy Localagricultural organizations for projects that will enhance efforts in western, central, northeastern and southeastern Massachusetts. Regional agricultural Buy Local organizations connect Bay State farmers with their surrounding communities. Started in the Pioneer Valley with Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), Buy Local organizations are committed to the idea that knowing where your food comes from makes good health and economic sense. Their efforts have helped generate consumer awareness and demand for locally grown food products while at the same time improving logistical access to these important food sources.
“It is more important than ever that, given our current challenging drought conditions, all residents of the Commonwealth support our hardworking farmers by buying their agricultural products locally,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Buy Local supports Massachusetts’ food economies and agricultural industry by generating consumer awareness and increasing the demand for our fantastic locally grown food products.”
“The Commonwealth has a proud history of farmers growing and supporting their communities by providing food that is unparalleled in quality while creating jobs,”said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By supporting Buy Local initiatives, Massachusetts consumers are not only growing their local economies but providing increased access to nutritious, locally-grown products for all.”
Massachusetts currently has nine regional Buy Local organizations that span the Commonwealth with the aim to connect food producers to their surrounding communities. Originally formed to identify and address marketing challenges in specific geographical communities across the Commonwealth, Buy Local groups have grown to be known as a sustainable business movement that includes innovative marketing and educational programs. Buy Local organizations offer hosts of regional opportunities and benefits from technical assistance information to marketing assistance so that consumers, farmers, and food producers alike can find resources to help them grow, buy, cook, and eat wholesome locally grown products
“Regional Buy Local groups provide opportunities to increase the visibility of locally grown farm products by promoting new and unique market venues throughout the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “With these grants, the Baker-Polito Administration is committed to continuing to support and promote a viable local food economy with Massachusetts’ agricultural industry.”
“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 DAR Commissioner John Lebeaux.
The following six projects have been funded through this year’s grants:
· Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) -$74,738
o The funding will be used to enhance and strengthen the market position of local farmers and fishermen in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties through a collaborative project. The project will include holding networking events for local food buyers and producers; distributing printed regional Local Food Guides; expanding the existing local food curriculum at 16 K-12 Martha’s Vineyard schools to include hydroponics, aquaponics, aquaculture, mycology, and urban farming; sponsoring a one-day regional training event focused on local food sourcing strategies and education for the Cape, Islands, and South Coast regions; and designing and implementing an effective grower-to-restaurant delivery service for Nantucket.
· Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) - $60,000
o The funding will be used to increase cash receipts for local farmers, CISA plans to expand and refine their “Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown” marketing campaign. CISA will distribute their Farm Products Guide, provide special promotions and educational opportunities, increase market research, and enhance their current advertising methods.
· Central Mass Grown (CMG) - $60,000
o The funding will be used to hire a full-time Director who will lead the organization towards goals determined by its Board of Directors. Only in its third year of service, CMG will expand upon its marketing and print media campaign to increase visibility and awareness.
· Northeast Harvest - $35,251
o The funding will be used to promote agriculture, aquaculture, and farmers’ markets in Essex and Middlesex Counties; plan and execute an industry conference and two educational events for students at the Topsfield Fairgrounds; increase the recognition of Massachusetts agriculture and aquaculture via a monthly electronic newsletter and social media campaign; enhance the Northeast Harvest website to include a section on aquaculture and a search function; and collaborate with other Massachusetts regional “buy local” groups through the Massachusetts Coalition for Local Food and Farms.
· Sustainable Business Network (SBN) - $40,010
o The funding will be used to plan, execute, and manage the 8th annual Boston Local Food Festival in September 2017. SBN has also decided to expand with the “Massachusetts ‘Eat Local’ Week,” to be held in August of 2017.
· Berkshire Grown - $30,000
o The funding will be used to develop a new, multifaceted media campaign that will increase the visibility of locally grown and produced products from primarily local ingredients grown or made in the Berkshires. A special focus on restaurants as buyers of locally produced food will be achieved through “Sourcing Local” workshops. Berkshire Grown will also provide business assistance for Berkshire County farmers and markets.
“Supporting local sustainable agriculture and our family farms is critical to the success of our local economy,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst). “These grant funds will provide vital resources for our Buy Local organizations to continue raising awareness of local food and agriculture to support our farmers and their products.”
“Congratulations to the organizations receiving Buy Local grant funding,” said State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer). “I was happy to work with my colleagues to secure budget funding that supports locally grown foods, encouraging sustainable, healthy food practices that boost the Massachusetts economy.”
“I congratulate all of the Buy Local organizations across the state, and thank the Baker-Polito Administration for its ongoing support of this important work,” said State Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington). “I especially thank CISA, which serves my district in western Massachusetts with innovative support for farmers and food producers, as well as marketing and education for consumers to improve access to healthier locally grown food. For more than 20 years, CISA has set the standard for successful community based agricultural economic development, and I am pleased that we continue to support this work through this state grant.”
“The Buy Local program creates opportunities for area organizations to collaborate in ways that provide the freshest and best food options for consumers while at the same time keeping our agricultural resources in productive use to sustain the farm economy of our state,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “Cape Ann and Middlesex County communities know that the Buy Local program is a win-win for producers promoting growth in our agriculture and aquaculture as well as for consumers through greater access to educational information and farmers markets.”
“The ‘Buy Local’ grant program is such an important piece of the fabric of Essex County, and it goes a long way in ensuring that people understand just how beneficial it is to our communities when we support local farms and farm stands,” said State Representative Brad Hill (R-Ipswich). “Thank you very much to the Baker-Polito Administration for funding this invaluable program.”
“Through the continued leadership of the Baker-Polito Administration, Secretary Beaton and Commissioner Lebeaux, our statewide Buy Local movement continues to flourish,” said State Representative Christopher Markey (D-New Bedford).“Thanks to these grants, programs with wide regional influence like SEMAP will build on their successes of connecting citizens of the Commonwealth with locally-grown agricultural products, help lower the carbon footprint from farm to table, and promote a local economy that will keep more dollars in our own communities.”
“Our agricultural community in the Commonwealth is comprised of mainly family owned and operated farms that produce millions of dollars a year,” said State Representative Paul Schmid (D-Westport). “I thank the Baker-Polito Administration for recognizing the importance of supporting locally grown and produced agriculture to benefit both our farmers and consumers. I am especially proud that SEMAP is receiving significant funding to continue their great mission of expanding access to local food and sustainable farming on the South Coast.”
“We are grateful for the support from the Department of Agricultural Resources,”said Karen Schwalbe, Executive Director, Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP). “These grants will provide the Buy Local organizations in the Commonwealth with many opportunities to strengthen our local food economies, increase awareness of Massachusetts grown produce, and educate consumers about nutritious locally-grown meat, fish and produce.”
Additional information on the Commonwealth’s nine regional Buy Localorganizations, their programs, and participating farms can be found here.
