Support your Local Farmer - Join a CSA

Purchasing a share in a CSA is a delicious and helpful way to support your local farmer. 

What is a CSA? CSA farms (CSA = Community Supported Agriculture) allow farmers to raise funds ahead of the season to buy seeds, equipment, and make plans for the growing season. Then, you pick up your "share" every week throughout the growing season. 

Visit berkshiregrown.org/find-food-and-farms/ to find your CSA.  It's not too late to sign up!

Berkshire Grown is Growing

Jake Levin, Jacuterie; Ted Moy, Berkshire Co-op Market; Sean Stanton, and Tess Diamond, North Plain Farm at Spring Supper 2017
The growing season is upon us and Berkshire Grown is proud to support our region's farmers and food producers. 

We celebrated the season and the delicious food while raising money for Berkshire Grown and Share the Bounty at the first Spring Supper on March 20. The Winter Workshop Series for Farmers wrapped up last month with farmers and market managers from all over the region learning from each other and about Massachusetts' new program Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). 

For more information about the work that Berkshire Grown has done to expand access to local food throughout the Berkshires, click here.

What We Are Reading: One of the biggest fights in food is about to become a civil war
By: Joe Fassler for The New Food Economy
Disagreements among producers and industry trade groups are not new, but there is a fight brewing in the world of organic food and products that has brought some old frustrations to a head. 

Will an organics checkoff give the growers and distributors more marketing and branding power - and the consumer awareness that comes with it? Or do checkoffs cost farmers more than just dues?

Read the whole article here

Ag Day 2017
Berkshire Grown and colleagues meet with State Senator Adam Hinds
Massachusetts agriculture took center stage this week at the State House in Boston as farmers and Buy Local groups (including Berkshire Grown) gathered to raise awareness of successes and struggles in our industry.
Berkshire Grown and colleagues meet with State Representative Gailanne Cariddi

Visitors to the Berkshire Grown table enjoyed Gould Farm cheese, Bartlett's cider, and Berkshire Mountain Bread!

For more information about the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation's priorities for the 2017/2018 Legislative Session, read the white sheet available  here .

ThinkFOOD: Equity and Inclusion in Food

Join Berkshire Grown, Guidos Fresh Marketplace, The Nutrition Center, and Bard College at Simon's Rock for the 4th annual ThinkFOOD Conference. Hosted by the Center for Food Studies at Bard College at Simon's Rock, this year's theme is Equity and Inclusion in Food. 

A panel presentation and keynote address will examine diversity and equity in food and its relevance in the national dialogue about immigration, minimum wage, and local food movements.

Saturday, April 8, 10am-3pm 
Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington
For more information and to register, visit simons-rock.edu/thinkfood .

Giving Thanks 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the first Spring Supper. 

Special thanks to committee members and our Honorary Chair, author Ruth Reichl Thank you to Cranwell; Mark Firth, Bettina Schwartz and Stephen Browning of Prairie Whale; all of the chefs, and contributors (Guidos, Assembly Coffee Roasters, Barrington Brewery, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Big Elm Brewing, M.S. Walker Wines, and H.R. Zeppelin Fine Handmade Chocolates). 

None of it would have been possible without the incredible work of Event Coordinator Amy Rudnick, thank you!
Support Be rkshire Grown, local food, and our farmers.

Stay in touch.
Berkshire Grown's  e-newsletter comes out monthly.

Please send information to alicia@berkshiregrown.org
Barbara Zheutlin, Director
Kate Bailey, Program Manager
Martha Bryan, BAV Program Manager
Jamie Paxton, Outreach Program Manager
Alicia Rossie, Membership Outreach Coordinator, Newsletter Editor 

Join Berkshire Grown here.