Regiona"Buy Local" Campaign Proposed for Berkshire County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Diane Baedeker Petit, 617-626-1752

LENOX, Mass. -- Massachusetts Commissioner of Food and Agriculture Jonathan L. Healy met today with state Senator Andrea Nuciforo, Jr., local officials and representatives of regional organizations at the Seven Hills Resort in Lenox to discuss a possible "Buy Local" campaign promoting farm and food products produced in Berkshire County.

The state Department of Food and Agriculture is soliciting proposals from regional non-profit, agricultural, government, quasi-government, or other organizations to lead and implement agricultural marketing campaigns in several locales across the state.

"We hope to see the tremendous success of last summer’s Pioneer Valley effort replicated in other parts of the Commonwealth," explained Commissioner Healy, referring to a Western Massachusetts campaign called "Be a Local Hero" organized by Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA).

The purpose of the campaigns will be to increase income for family farmers, to increase awareness of Massachusetts agriculture, to attract regional partners to promote agriculture in various parts of the state and to build local capacity to continue this support independently.

"Sweet corn or milk, squash or apples: buying local produce is good for your neighbors and good for your health," commented Senator Nuciforo. "Buy supporting our local farmers, we keep Berkshire farms alive, and we all reap the benefits of that investment."

The request for proposals is available on the Web at www.comm-pass.com or by contacting Susan Allen, Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, 617-626-1751..