The days are getting shorter and apples, pumpkins, mums, and fall squash are starting to make their appearance at greenhouses and farm stands across the state. Despite drought conditions in most regions of the state this summer, farmers have reported good to above average harvests for most crops. I’m currently enjoying local peaches that are extremely sweet and juicy this year! I’m looking forward to tasting the first apples of the season, and particularly a fresh Ludacrisp apple. If you haven’t heard of or tried one of these varieties yet, it’s worth a bite!
In case you missed it, the most recent department program to launch is the Natural Disaster Recovery II Program. Thanks to the efforts (and patience!) of Deputy Commissioner Winton Pitcoff, it launched on August 3rd after more than eighteen months of working with our federal colleagues at USDA’s Farm Service Agency in DC. A special note of gratitude and appreciation to Congressman Jim McGovern for his advocacy and securing the funding for Massachusetts. We were the first New England state to launch the program and have developed a video to address questions regarding program eligibility. Please visit: Natural Disaster Recovery II Program for Agriculture (NDRII) (2023-2024) | Mass.gov to learn more. Answers to FAQs will be added to the site soon.
With July being National Ice Cream Month, we kicked off the celebrations at Flayvors of Cook Farm in Hadley. It was an opportunity to highlight the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail with our colleagues at MA Office of Travel and Tourism and celebrate ice cream that incorporates local cream/dairy. We got to hear from farm owner Gordie Cook about the history of the farm’s herd of Jersey and Holstein cattle and the ice cream business that is now operated by his daughter-in-law Debbie Cook. Diversifying the farm into ice cream production was the vision of Gordie’s late wife, Beth, who brought her dream to life in 1998. With unique seasonal flavors like “Hadley Grass” (asparagus) and last year’s “Dill Pickle,” the farm continues to create delicious ice cream flavors for all to enjoy!
With MDAR staff, members of the Agricultural Youth Council, Mass Tourism officials, and Gordie Cook at Flayvors of Cook Farm in Hadley
Lieutenant Governor Driscoll hosted a day of farm tours in Western MA, visiting the Western MA Food Processing Center in Greenfield, Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield, Warner Farm in Sunderland, and Reed Farm in Sunderland in Amherst. Throughout the tours, farmers expressed appreciation for the state’s grant programs and land protection efforts, while also highlighting the impacts of tariffs, energy costs, workforce development challenges, and market access. The tours demonstrated the impacts of state investments in infrastructure to further farms’ viability and diversification. Thank you to the farmers for taking the time to share their stories and host the group at their farms.
The MA Fruit Growers Association hosted their Summer Meeting at the UMass Cold Spring Orchard in Belchertown with great presentations by the UMass-Amherst Extension team. Several members of our MDAR team attended to provide informational resources and connect with growers on the latest news in the industry. It was great to see so many growers in attendance, share department updates, and learn about the latest challenges the industry is facing so our department can be most responsive in collaboration with partners
The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) reached the milestone of $100M in sales of fresh, healthy, local produce and was celebrated with state and community partners at Red Fire Farm in Granby. Since the program first launched in 2017, the demand has continued to grow for locally grown fruits and vegetables at farm stands, farmers markets, and through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. HIP is administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), with support from MDAR team members to the farmers. HIP was fully funded in the FY27 budget, and applications for new farm vendors will be opening up in the coming months. Stay tuned!
Boston Area Gleaners hosted a ribbon cutting event for their newly completed cold storage facility, funded in part by the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program (FSIG). Director of Food Security Juli Stelmaszyk, FSIG Coordinator Molly Hansen, and I attended to tour the facility, which will triple storage capacity and allow for more local food to be distributed across the state. It was great to connect with local, state, and federal officials at the event, as well as community partners that helped bring this project to fruition. Congratulations to the BAG team for making this concept a reality and their continued commitment to local farms!
With MDAR Food Security Division Director Juli Stelmaszyk, and Boston Area Gleaners Dylan Frazier and Executive Director Usha Thakrar
Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod hosted MDAR team members for tours at Bay End Farm, Wellfleet Oyster Alliance, and Hillside Poultry Farm. The tours highlighted state investments through programs such as the Farm Viability Enhancement Program and Climate Smart Agricultural Program, opportunities for greater partnership with the aquaculture sector, and the challenges that custom meat processors face in terms of infrastructure gaps. The farmers and shellfish growers showcased their production practices, innovative technologies, and partnerships within the community.
With MDAR staff at Wellfleet Oyster Alliance
We hosted an MDAR volunteer outing at Community Servings in Jamaica Plain to help prepare medically tailored meals. Community Servings is a wonderful organization that prioritizes the purchase of locally grown and produced ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, and value-added items. They work with registered dieticians to create from-scratch meals, delivering to patients with over fifteen dietary prescriptions. Our team helped to prepare items for delivery, as well as portion out servings of turkey vegetable soup and baked goods. It was a fun and meaningful afternoon in the kitchen!
MDAR Staff volunteer at Community Servings in Boston
A highlight of the summer is attending the local 4-H fairs and learning about the youth 4-H projects. I attended the Worcester County 4-H Fair and MA 4-H Dairy Show and had the opportunity to watch the livestock shows, see the exhibit hall entries, and observe visual presentations about dairy goats and how to properly trim the hooves of goats. Many of the youth will go on to compete at The Big E next month and at national competitions later this fall. Best of luck to all competing!
With livestock winners at the Worcester County 4-H Fair
Massachusetts Farmers Market Week featured visits to Hingham, Billerica, and New Bedford this year. We enjoyed meeting with the farm vendors, as well as artists, value-added producers, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. Each market reflects the culture of the community and serves as a critical food access point through programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). Thank you to the market managers, volunteers, farms, businesses, and customers that help the markets thrive in their communities.
The MA Association of Dairy Farmers (MADF) hosted their annual Summer Picnic at Twin Rivers Farm, LLC in Ashley Falls. With over one hundred farmers and industry representatives in attendance, it was a good opportunity to learn about the latest programs and technologies available to the industry. A drone demonstration was of particular interest to the attendees. Our MDAR team members enjoyed connecting with farmers, sharing about current grant programs that are open for submissions, and discussing the dynamics of the milk market. Thank you to Bob Kilmer and family for hosting the meeting and the delicious dairy products that were provided at the event.
We celebrated the third annual Urban Ag Week with over twenty events hosted at urban farms and community gardens across the state. Members of our MDAR team attended events throughout the week and enjoyed getting to connect with urban ag practitioners who are finding innovative ways to utilize space in producing crops. A particular highlight was co-hosting a listening session with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley at Everett Community Growers. With over forty attendees at the listening session, it was a unique opportunity to hear directly from growers and community members about the impacts and needs of urban agriculture. Many organizations are constrained by land/space availability and city/town ordinances that may inhibit their ability to grow in certain locations. We walked away with a list of deliverables and areas that we can focus on to support this important sector of food security and community development.
Berkshire Grown hosted our MDAR team and local elected officials for a great day of farm tours throughout Southern Berkshire County. This year’s farm stops included Gaetano’s Organic Farm (fruit and vegetable production), Woven Roots Farm (vegetable production, CSA, and farm store), Lila’s Mountain Farm (lamb, wool, and flowers), and the Stockbridge Farmers Market. Many of the farmers carried on the tradition of earlier generations of loved ones by stewarding the land and continuing to diversify production to keep the farms viable. We appreciated learning about their farming techniques, how they have diversified their business models to provide for their families and communities, and how they are working together with Berkshire Grown to address food insecurity in the Berkshires.
In Berkshire County with MDAR staff during our tour of farms hosted by Berkshire Grown
Along with the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, our MDAR team hosted the 41st Annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest at Boston Public Market. With over 103 entries from 21 farms, it was another successful contest with farmers and the public anxiously awaiting the judges to confirm their winning bites. The tomatoes were full of flavor this year and there’s still time to get to a local farmstand, farmers market, or grocery store to find fresh local tomatoes to enjoy. Thank you to the farmers who entered their tomatoes, the judges for their time, BPM for hosting the event, NEVBGA for their support, and our MDAR team members who helped with set-up, score tabulations, and coordinating tomato deliveries to Boston.
Announcing the winners of the 41st Annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest
Stone Soup Café hosted the 21st Annual Harvest Supper on the Greenfield Town Common with over 1,000 community members enjoying a locally sourced meal. Referred to as “the bounty from the county,” the event shines a spotlight on local farms and food businesses with the meal including almost all locally sourced ingredients. It’s a true testament to Chef Kirsten Leavitt and her team at Stone Soup Café, and their commitment to carrying on the legacy of Juanita and Wally Nelson who founded the event. The pay-what-you-can meal is a community gathering that I enjoy volunteering at each year, alongside over 100 other volunteers. Thank you to everyone that makes the event possible and to the farmers for sharing their harvest!
As we look to September and the fall season, our team is once again gearing up for The Big E and management of The Massachusetts State Building on the Avenue of States. Be sure to mark your calendars for Massachusetts Day on September 24th and take some time to visit the building. We’re looking forward to visiting agricultural fairs across the state over the next month, as well as attending Farm Bureau county meetings. The connections and conversations at these events are some of the most valuable, as we learn about timely issues impacting farmers and reflect on the growing season.
Finally, I’d like to acknowledge Barbara Hopson, a longtime member of our staff who recently retired after decades of service on the State Land Licensing program and the APR program. During her time with the APR program, Barbara helped to permanently protect numerous agricultural properties in the Berkshires. Her work has left a lasting impact and legacy on the region’s farmland preservation efforts. We thank Barbara for her years of dedication and wish her a well-deserved retirement!
Enjoy the end of the summer season, kids heading back to school, and we hope to see you at the fairs, meetings, or events this fall!
Ashley
The Farm & Market Report - August/September 2026