Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $750,000 to Increase Local Food Access and Support Massachusetts Farmers

Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $750,000 in grants to help more residents buy Massachusetts-grown products directly from local farms. Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), the Buy Local Program provides funding to ten regional groups across the state. The goal is to connect local farmers with their communities, raise awareness about locally grown food, and make healthy, fresh options accessible to every household.

“Massachusetts farmers are an important part of our economy and our communities, and we want to make it easier for families to buy the food they grow,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will help connect more residents with local farms and create new opportunities for our farmers to grow their businesses. When we buy local, we're supporting Massachusetts families, strengthening our agricultural economy, and keeping more dollars right here in our state.”

“As a former mayor, I know just how much small businesses and family farms mean to our regional economies,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By funding these ten Buy Local groups, we’re supporting farmers, keeping money close to home, and making our communities stronger.”

This year’s funding builds on the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s ongoing commitment to protecting food security and advancing key recommendations from the Governor's Anti-Hunger Task Force. These grants will help more families learn about and use the state’s Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which recently celebrated a major milestone of $100 million in lifetime benefits used by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to buy fresh produce directly from Massachusetts growers. HIP matches SNAP expenditures dollar-for-dollar, and the administration recently secured state funding to protect the program's tiered benefit structure. Additionally, a portion of this new funding will support winter farmers’ markets to ensure year-round availability of Massachusetts-grown items.

“Buying local is a direct investment in the health of our natural environment,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “When we choose Massachusetts-grown food, we help care for our land, water, and the wildlife that depend on healthy open space. These grants give local nonprofits the support they need to protect our natural resources and build a more sustainable, resilient food system.”

“Shining a spotlight on the benefits of eating local translates directly into increased business and sustainability for our farmers,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “Every dollar a consumer spends at a local farm stand or farmers market helps keep our agricultural heritage alive, so we encourage everyone to buy Massachusetts-grown products directly from local farmers.”

“The Buy Local program sustains our farmers and sustains our communities by bolstering our agricultural economy and increasing our access to local and fresh food,” said State Representative Mindy Domb (D – Amherst). “Too often, our farms struggle to maintain fiscal viability while our neighbors struggle to access nutritious food. The Buy Local program helps organizations bridge this gap, connect people to farms and strengthen our food system and community. With increasing costs of groceries and fresh produce, these grants will help connect our residents to local food. I'm proud to support the Buy Local program across the Commonwealth and am especially grateful to CISA, our regional Buy Local organization, for their efforts to support local farmers in western Massachusetts, our local food programs, and our communities.”

The following are the grant awards for FY27: 

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