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Dear Friends,
It’s officially Spring and new life is all around us! Crocuses have begun to emerge, giving us the long awaited sign that winter is behind us, lambing season for our local livestock farmers is underway, and soon we’ll be back at the farmers markets enjoying pea shoots and the last of the prior season’s root vegetables.
Farmers markets, I must admit, are my happy place. Before joining the BAV team, I was a farmers market manager in NYC, and that experience ultimately led me back to my home county, Berkshire County, where I’ve had the privilege of implementing and now managing BAV’s Market Match Fund.
Through the Market Match Fund, I feel so lucky to be able to support farmers markets (my favorite places), local farmers (my favorite people), and low-income households (my neighbors) in our Berkshire community. How often is it that the staff of an organization get to live out their passions and help their community thrive in the process? And it’s not just me!
Recently I had the pleasure of attending BAV’s Farming Forward, a farm-specific gathering designed to help local farmers of any type or scale learn how to adapt their operations to climate change. I witnessed my colleague, Ben Crockett, also live out his passion, and I know the same is true for all on the BAV team.
I hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter and I look forward to seeing you out in the sunshine and (just around the corner) at market!
Warmly,
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Ciana Barnaba
Community Relations & Resource Development Manager
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MARKET MATCH FUND
"Boost SNAP, Build Community" Launches April 1!
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BAV could not be more excited to launch this year’s Market Match Fund campaign! We’ve set a goal of raising $30,000 during the month of April to support farmers, farmers markets, and local food access. With the generosity of our community … we know we can do it!
What’s the big deal about the Market Match Fund? This centralized funding source empowers Berkshire-area farmers markets to offer a $1-to-$1 SNAP match up to $30, giving SNAP customers a total of $60 to spend on fresh food grown by local farmers.
This is powerful! Fully funded Market Match programs mean more customers and sales for local farmers + more stability and consistency for farmers markets + more food access and food security for our neighbors—a need that’s more pressing than ever.
And it all adds up to a stronger, healthier, and more resilient local food system. This program makes a difference! You can read more about the Market Match Fund in action—plus the incredible vibrancy of the Pittsfield Farmers Market—in the Spotlight story below.
The theme of this year’s campaign is “Boost SNAP, Build Community” because community building is the energy, impact, and heart of our Market Match Fund. Thank you for being part of this effort! You can learn more and donate below.
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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
Pittsfield Farmers Market, a Program of Roots Rising
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Market Match Means ‘Beautiful Local Food’—For Everyone | |
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The Pittsfield Farmers Market is for everyone. Operated by local nonprofit Roots Rising, the market doubles SNAP dollars and other food assistance benefits to give all shoppers “meaningful options for purchasing beautiful local food,” according to Lauren Piotrowski, Roots Rising’s farm manager.
Until recently, however, the Pittsfield market had to cap its SNAP match. The market was limited by the funds it could raise for its SNAP matching program, and the cap helped stretch those dollars over the season. “When we did have a cap, there would be a morning rush. People would be afraid of missing the match,” Piotrowski explained.
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Last year, that turned around. Thanks to support from Berkshire Agricultural Venture’s Market Match Fund, the Pittsfield market was able to cover the full cost of matching SNAP dollars all day long for low-income shoppers—a one-to-one match up to $30. Shoppers gained more peace of mind and more purchasing power, and local farmers saw a boost in customers and sales. And Roots Rising was able to focus its fundraising on other areas of need. | |
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“This is such an essential program,” affirmed Jess Vecchia, Roots Rising’s co-founder and executive director. She explained that before BAV’s Market Match Fund existed, market managers in the Berkshires sought limited funding from the same local sources—or, as volunteers, lacked the time and expertise for fundraising. “To have a ‘universal’ program like the one BAV has developed is really impactful—not just for us, but for all farmers markets,” Vecchia said.
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Photo Credit: Roots Rising, Photo 1 Youth Market Crew, Photo 2 vegetable display. | |
EVENT RECAP
Farming Forward Offers New Resources, Connections
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It was wonderful to gather with over 40 farmers at the Guthrie Center in Great Barrington on March 16 to learn more about how farms in our region can adapt to our changing climate. We are pleased to share a few highlights here:
Expert information: We heard from three agricultural professionals about how climate change is affecting the northeastern U.S., what farmers in our area are doing to adapt, and how farms can develop their own risk management plans. Attendees told us they now have a better understanding of the specific risks climate change poses for our region, and can utilize some of the tools and resources provided during the day to create their own risk management strategies.
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New connections: We heard multiple times during the day how attendees were making new connections with other farmers to share climate-related challenges and learn from peers how to start addressing these risks. These new farmer connections can be called on in the future when farmers are faced with novel problems, need help recovering from a damaging weather event, or just want to share experiences as a sounding board while navigating this “new normal.”
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Help for extreme weather challenges: One of the most impactful parts of the day was when the entire group came together to share their recent challenges with extreme weather. This activity emphasized that no farmer is experiencing these challenges alone, and many are already adapting their operations to new weather extremes. BAV is thankful to all the farmers who shared their experiences, and we hope the conversation fosters greater farmer connectivity and accelerates climate adaptation.
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PROGRAM UPDATE
Livestock Working Group Meets In Person!
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On March 7, the Livestock Working Group (LWG) met in person for the first time since convening two years ago. The roots of this group go back to 2021, when BAV was awarded a USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership grant to strengthen support for local and regional livestock processing in the Berkshire-Taconic region. As part of this grant, BAV convened the LWG in partnership with Berkshire Grown. Made up of 10 stakeholders in regional meat processing, our group has been meeting for two years online and has developed five critical needs and priorities to reduce bottlenecks in the local meat value chain.
An exciting aspect of our first in-person meeting was gathering in collaboration with the experts at Food Works Group (FWG). BAV contracted with FWG, thanks to funds awarded by Massachusetts, to conduct a market analysis and feasibility study for expanded USDA value-added meat production and shared-use cold storage opportunities. At the March 7 meeting, FWG presented key findings from its first phase of research. These findings include the need for increased capacity for USDA certified value-added meat processing; at least one key anchor user to sustain year-round operation; and a focus on value-added services not currently available in our region, including smoked products, broth, rendered lard, jerky and meat sticks, meat pies and dumplings, pet food and treats, and marinated meats. A farmer survey will follow as phase two of this research.
In an upcoming newsletter, we will explore the work of the LWG and delve further into FWG’s key findings.
—Jake Levin,
Local Meat Processing Support Program Program Manager
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BAV seeks a creative, dependable, and well-organized person to be our External Relations Coordinator. This position will support the growth and efficiency of our organization by framing and promoting the impact of our work; driving connectivity among BAV, our stakeholders and community at large; and supporting our donor activity and relationships. This role is an opportunity to join a dynamic and evolving organization, and to work with a team of people who are passionate and dedicated to the work of helping local farmers and food entrepreneurs thrive.
Review of applications will begin April 22 and remain open until the position is filled. Read the full job description here.
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MDAR’s Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program
Funds projects that ensure farmers, fishermen, and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system while providing greater, more equitable access to local food.
Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
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MDAR’s First Annual Agricultural Resources Fair
When: Friday, April 12, 9am-3pm
Where: Mass Wildlife Field Headquarters, Westborough
Registration: Free! Registration isn’t required, but those planning to attend are asked to fill out this form.
Details: Non-profit agricultural stakeholders and service providers will offer the Massachusetts agricultural community timely resource information. Material presented includes information on services, funding, and technical assistance programs.
For more information, contact Mary Jordan at mary.jordan@mass.gov or 617-459-8747.
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Fundamentals of Organic Production Workshop Series
When: Several dates, 10–11:30am, or as noted
Where: online via Zoom, or in-person as noted
Registration: Free! See each event page to register.
Details: Are you looking to increase or improve your organic growing methods? UMass Extension and NOFA/Mass are offering a series on fundamentals of organic vegetable and small fruit production. These workshops are intended for commercial vegetable and small fruit growers.
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SUPPORT OUR WORK!
BAV empowers local farmers and food businesses with your support! Please consider donating today.
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Our deepest thanks and appreciation to our donor community and all those who support local farmers. | | | | |
