growing local economies through agriculture · continue to expand public visibility of local...

Growing Local Economies through AgricultureFISCAL YEAR 2018 LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL

Sustain support for regional Buy Local efforts in Massachusetts by retaining the following language and increasing funding from the FY2017 budget to the FY2018 budget:

2511-0100“ . . . provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended to enhance the buy local effort in western, central, northeastern, and southeastern Massachusetts.”

Members of the Massachusetts Coalition for Local Food and Farms (MCLFF)MCLFF is an alliance of regionally-based nonprofit ‘Buy Local’ organizations that together serve all communities in the Commonwealth. We endeavor to grow our Massachusetts economy, promote local agriculture and fisheries, and increase the amount of local food eaten by Massachusetts residents.

» Berkshire Grown

» Cape Cod, Buy Fresh and Buy Local

» Central Mass Grown

» CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture)

» Island Grown Initiative

» Northeast Harvest Buy Local Program

» SEMAP (Southeastern MA Agricultural Partnership)

» Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts

» Sustainable Nantucket

Stow Greenhouses, a flower farm located in Northeast Harvest’s region, was one of three farms to work with CISA to test business feasibility templates for vending at the Boston Public Market. They have since opened a stall at the Boston Public Market, joining farms from Worcester, Middlesex, and Essex County, including Stillman’s, a produce and meat operation in central Mass, and a member of both CISA and Central Mass Grown. Boston Public Market is just one of many farmers’ markets in the capital that attract farmers from across the state including Silverbrook Farm, a SEMAP member.

Building a Strong Local Economy

Our statewide network provides critical support to Massachusetts farmers and fishermen, strengthening the local economy, preserving active working lands and waters, and making fresh, local food more available to all members of our communities. Together, we have made notable progress in expanding consumer purchasing behavior that supports local agriculture, as our coalition has grown from four to nine members and our work gained more traction with the public. Massachusetts ranks #3 in the nation for per farm sales of agricultural products directly to consumers.

» Massachusetts has over 7,755 farms, stewarding nearly 524,000 acres and generating sales over $492 million.

» MCLFF members directly reach over a quarter million consumers, educating them about why, where, and how to support Massachusetts farms and related businesses.

» In our urbanized state, increasing purchases of local food by the public is the most effective way to sustain farm businesses and preserve working farmland.

» Increasing direct farm sales strengthens the local economy. According to CISA’s local impact calculator, if every household in the Commonwealth shifted just $5 a month towards local food, there would be an increase in local income of $79.3 million per year and 1,515 local jobs would be created in the state.

Working Together to Connect the Components of the Local Food System

Connection and collaboration is essential. Each member organization of MCLFF has relationships with the farmers and food producers in our distinct regions, and has developed priorities and expertise related to our business members’ needs. Our coalition enables us to connect resources throughout the state, providing technical assistance and building a strong network of growers, processors, distributors, and eaters in ways that enable our economy to thrive.

» Combined MCLFF members directly support over 1,785 farms and local agriculture related businesses through our membership, promotion and training work.

» Strengthening local farms through our work reduces sprawl, preserves open space and working landscapes, keeps public service spending and community taxes low. It also reduces transportation costs and petroleum use, minimizing environmental damage while improving food safety and security.

» Together we bring Massachusetts national recognition for leadership in the local foods movement and are helping local farms create and sustain a national trend of interest in local foods.

Sustained support is vital, especially in these uncertain times! Buy Local campaigns require ongoing support to continue to expand public visibility of local agriculture in a crowded marketplace.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Local Food and Farms Promotes Local Agriculture and Fisheries!

Hosta Hill, a member of both Berkshire Grown and CISA’s ‘buy local’ campaigns, is a small specialty producer of lacto-fermented vegetables and hot sauce located in Housatonic, MA. They grow their own vegetables and buy in from local farmers across the state, including Alprilla Farm of Northeast Harvest’s region. Hosta Hill received training and technical assistance through CISA’s workshops on labor management and participated in the Local Specialty Crop & Local Food Trade Shows organized by the Sustainable Business Network. They sell their products to restaurants, farm stands, and retailers across the state, including Central Mass Locavore, an early member of Central Mass Grown. The web of support provided by MCLFF throughout the state has enabled Hosta Hill to build and expand their young and thriving business.

GROWING THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY 1

BERKSHIRE GROWN: Berkshire CountyOur region has 525 farms stewarding over 61,656 acres of land.

The market value of ag products sold is $22.5 million.The value of direct sales to consumers is $1.4 million.

In the past year, Berkshire Grown:» Generated over $180,000 for local vendors at

six Berkshire Grown Winter Farmers’ Markets in Great Barrington and Williamstown.

» Bought 25 farm shares from 18 local farms; volunteers picked up the food at eight of the farms and brought it to eight different pantries and food kitchens; also we subsidized farm shares at four of the farms, and provided shares to WIC participants at six farms through Berkshire Grown’s Share the Bounty program.

» Collaborated with Berkshire Agricultural Ventures to provide business assistance to farmers in order to increase the amount of land being farmed and offer opportunities to new farmers.

» Worked with over 125 farms and nearly 100 restaurants/food buyers in the Berkshire Grown Farm to Table Business to Business Network.

Berkshire Grown supports and promotes local agriculture as a vital part of the Berkshire community, economy, and landscape.


CISA: Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin countiesOur region has 2,161 farms stewarding 182,428 acres of land.

The market value of agricultural products sold is $128 million.

The value of direct sales to consumers is $10.4 million (up from $4.5 million in 2002).

In the past year, CISA:» Represented 426 business members through our Local Hero campaign,

including farms, retailers, restaurants, specialty food producers, garden centers, and institutions.

» Printed 60,000 copies of our annual Locally Grown: Farm Products Guide, and maintained a searchable online version to help consumers find local farm products.

» Offered 37 workshops and direct one-on-one support, reaching over 340 participants.

» Fifty-two percent of farms participating in CISA’s Local Hero campaign reported an increase in income, and 95% of farmers reported that participation in the campaign had a positive impact on their farm business.

» Distributed over $98,000 in no-interest loans to farms affected by drought and stone fruit loss through CISA’s Emergency Farm Fund.

CISA strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy.


CENTRAL MASS GROWN: Worcester County

Our region has 1,560 farms stewarding over 105,000 acres of land.

The market value of ag products sold is $57.5 million.

The value of direct sales to consumers is $10.5 million.

In the past year, Central Mass Grown:» Cultivated relationships with 215 members, including

farms, nurseries, growing centers, retailers, restaurants, caterers, producers, distributors, wholesalers, institutions, organizations, and community partners.

» Published and distributed 38,000 copies of our annual Farm Products Guide, which connects consumers with CMG members across the county.

» Hosted two annual meetings attended by over 200 members and supporters.

» Developed a new website complete with member listing, calendar of events, and a collection of farmer and consumer resources.

» Developed working relationships with local, regional, and statewide partners to host workshop training programs for farmers.

Central Mass Grown’s mission is to promote the purchase of local agricultural products and to foster education about its benefits to health, communities, the economy, and the environment.


NORTHEAST HARVEST BUY LOCAL PROGRAM: Essex and Middlesex counties


The market value of ag products sold is $102 million.

The value of direct sales to consumers is $13.9 million.

In the past year, Northeast Harvest:» Hosted the Annual Agricultural Conference to educate farmers and consumers about

local agriculture.

» Hosted two Student Ag Days, where over 400 young people had the opportunity to participate in eight hands-on activities, led by agricultural industry leaders.

» Continued to support and enhance the Northeast Harvest website, which assists consumers in locating local produce in Essex and Middlesex counties.

» Displayed banners and literature at local agricultural fairs to promote local agriculture.

» Used social media as an outlet to promote local farms, farmers’ markets, and farm stands, including starting a new Instagram account.

» Distributed e-newsletter to promote farms, farmers’ markets, farm stands, and agricultural events.

Northeast Harvest works to help sustain the farmers and agricultural producers of Essex and Middlesex counties through education and promotion.


SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK of Massachusetts (SBN): Greater Boston area

In the past year, Sustainable Business Network:» Organized the New England region’s premier food

event connecting eaters with farmers and local food producers. SBN’s Boston Local Food Festival attracts over 140 local food vendors (farmers, specialty producers, restaurants, exhibitors, and more) and 40,000-50,000 eaters from the Greater Boston area. Boston Local Food Festival generated more than five million gross impressions with media and was named one of Boston’s ‘Best of the New’ events by the Boston Globe in 2010.

» Hosted five highly successful Buy Local Trade Shows to date. These Local Food Trade Shows are designed to facilitate connections and stimulate business relationships between producers and wholesale buyers of local food including restaurants, retail, schools, hotels, hospitals, non-profits, and more. One hundred percent of participants made meaningful business connections at these events. The trade shows engage over 70 local food producers and nearly 200 local buyers annually.

» Organized twice-annual Local Craft Brewfests featuring local beer, cider, mead, wine, and craft soda brewers, with an emphasis on local brews using local ingredients, drawing over 2,500 participants annually.

SBN works with local eaters and commercial buyers to support local farms, fishermen, and value added producers.

Sustainable Business Network’s Boston Local Food program is all about growing a sustainable local food system with a goal to provide healthy local food for all. We collaborate with local businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and individuals to achieve our goals. Through programs, events, and educational outreach, the Boston Local Food program builds connections between eaters, local farms, fisheries, food producers, distributors, restaurants, retail food businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations – with a core interest in supporting locally owned independent food businesses.


SEMAP: Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties


The market value of ag products sold is $177 million.

The value of direct sales to consumers is $10 million.

In the past year, SEMAP:» Provided comprehensive information for consumers seeking locally produced foods with a printed Local Food Guide

and an Online Farm Guide.

» Offered 26 workshops on a variety of topics at SEMAP’s 10th annual Ag & Food Conference to over two dozen vendors and exhibitors and over 225 attendees.

» Convened the first Southeastern Massachusetts Fiber Roundtable to more fully integrate local fiber into SEMAP’s local agricultural offerings.

» Brought together members of the agricultural community at a full summer’s worth of SEMAP’s popular Twilight Farmer Education Series, offering monthly workshops from March through October and informal Farmer Potlucks.

SEMAP is dedicated to preserving and expanding access to local food and sustainable farming in southeastern Massachusetts through research and education.

At Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod, our mission is simple: connect people on the Cape with locally-grown farm and sea products.

In the past year, Buy Fresh, Buy Local Cape Cod: » Represented over 144 members, including land and sea farms, restaurants,

retailers, and farmers’ markets.

» Printed and distributed 15,000 copies of the Cape Cod Local Farm & Food Guide.

» Engaged nearly 4,085 fans and followers through social media, and sent our email newsletter to over 2,700 readers.

» Collaborated with Cape Cod Fishermen’s Alliance in producing a video marketing campaign to boost awareness and consumption of local seafood species, which has had over 11,500 viewers.

» Worked with a local bank, a healthcare service provider, and a farm to coordinate volunteer harvesting and distribution of over three tons of sweet potatoes and squash to Cape Cod food pantries.

SEMAP serves southeastern Massachusetts and partners with Cape Cod Buy Fresh, Buy Local to help our agricultural producers improve profitability on their operations.


Sustainable Nantucket is cultivating a healthy Nantucket by building a more locally-based and self-reliant food system on-island, and a stronger local economy.

SUSTAINABLE NANTUCKET Nantucket Island: Nantucket County

Our region has 15 farms stewarding over 200 acres of land.

The market value of agricultural products sold is $1.7 million.

The value of direct sales to consumers is $709,000.

In the past year, Sustainable Nantucket:» Held the 9th annual Sustainable Nantucket Farmers and Artisans

Market with over 60 vendors and over 47,000 visitors.

» Offered a variety of summer and after-school gardening and cooking programs to over 600 students in school gardens and classrooms.

» Published the 6th annual NantucketGrown™ magazine, produced “Find NantucketGrown™ Food” brochures for Visitors Services and Chamber of Commerce, and held a Local Catch Month to encourage the consumption of underutilized local seafood.

» Held the 8th annual NantucketGrown™ Dinner Series, pairing local food and the island’s chefs, which over 200 people attended.

» Held the inaugural NantucketGrown™ Food Festival, designed to celebrate our growing local food system, educate the community about sustainability, and provide support for local farmers and food producers.


ISLAND GROWN INITIATIVE Martha’s Vineyard: Dukes County

Our region has 42 farms stewarding over 900 acres of land.

The market value of ag products sold is $3.5 million.

The value of direct sales to consumers is $1 million.

Island Grown supports a resilient & equitable food system on Martha’s Vineyard by providing food and agriculture education and developing infrastructure to make a year-round local food system viable.

In the past year, Island Grown:» Harvested over 23,000 pounds of farm surplus and

donated it to 26 local agencies serving school children, the elderly, and food insecure households.

» Harvested 5,000 pounds of lettuce and 600 pounds of trout, as well as specialty crops like strawberries, herbs and cucumbers, for local markets and schools from Island Grown’s year-round hydroponic and aquaponics greenhouse.

» Leased 18 acres of land to three farmers, rented garden plots to 11 families in our community garden, and led four educational workshops on a range of food growing techniques.

» Led 1,750 classroom and garden based lessons to teach children from ages two through 18 about healthy eating and growing food, as well as 97 field trips to connect students with local farmers.

» Brought 1,800 chickens & 100 turkeys for 17 backyard growers and two commercial farmers from field to freezer with Island Grown’s mobile poultry processing unit.

growing local economies through agriculture · continue to expand public visibility of local...

Documents