150 Faces of Massachusetts Agriculture

August Schumacher, Jr.

former Commissioner of Food and Agriculture

August (Gus) Schumacher Jr. served as Massachusetts Commissioner of Food and Agriculture from 1985 to 1990. Schumacher grew up on a family farm in the town of Lexington where his father, president of the Boston Market Garden (1950-51), produced vegetables from 1938 to 1972.

Schumacher intensified the farmland protection program initiated by Commissioner Frederic Winthrop, reaching nearly 300 farm families on protected land approaching 30,000 acres. He also fostered a program with UMass in Integrated Pest Management to assist farmers in improving the management of their farm chemicals.

Market development was a major feature of Schumacher's tenure, with farmers markets expanding from 34 to 88 and roadside stands showing strong growth. He started several promotional events including an annual Tomato Contest and Cider Taste-off, and fostered relationships between restaurateurs and farmers through events and the "Fresh Connection" newsletter.

Commissioner Schumacher created the Farmers' Market Coupon program in 1986, a program that provides coupons to low-income mothers and elders to use at farmers' markets. The program also helps to develop markets for local farmers. The coupon program was replicated by numerous other states and eventually became a federal program.

Schumacher later held several positions with the US Department of Agriculture including Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service and Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Services.