Among their many admirable qualities, farmers are particularly resilient and flexible. Year after year, they face unpredictable weather, natural disasters, economic challenges, and more. They adapt. They persist. They come up with new ways to protect crops and livestock from climate change, they pivot when they discover a new enterprise that’s profitable, and they continue to nurture tiny seedlings and newly born animals each spring despite the uncertainties they may face.
Last year, when the full force of the pandemic began to hit us in March, farmers were already deep in preparation for the upcoming season. It’s the time of year when greenhouses fill up with seedlings, livestock fences are put up or repaired, barns hold newborn lambs, kids, calves, and piglets, and farmers are selling those last few CSA shares and finalizing their farmers market applications. It’s an incredibly difficult time to face the kinds of changes and uncertainties that we did in March.
At Berkshire Grown, we had just held our annual networking event and were looking ahead to our next winter farmers market, scheduled for later in the month. Suddenly, we found ourselves unable to hold our last two markets of the season, and our member farmers were faced with rapidly changing direct market and wholesale conditions.
Looking back, we’re inspired by the ways our members met this challenge. From getting more fresh produce to food pantries, to jumping into the world of online sales and home delivery, and opening new farm stores, farmers rose to pandemic challenges with their usual grit. We’re not trying to paint an inaccurately rosy picture — the pandemic has been a massive tragedy, and no story of resilience can make up for the losses it has caused — but our farmers kept the local food system going, and we want to recognize their efforts.
Many local growers, including MX Morningstar in Hudson, New York and North Plain Farm in Housatonic, launched their own online shopping options while expanding their on-farm retail stores. Other farmers developed direct-to-consumer delivery services, virtual farmers markets, curbside pickup, and more.
Demonstrating the cooperative strength of our local food economy, farmers and local food producers built creative solutions together during the pandemic. Old Friends Farm in Amherst created an on-farm pickup with online ordering, and began offering products from over 70 other local producers. Square Roots Farm in Lanesborough started a home delivery service, bringing their own products and a few other local options to their customers.
Berkshire Worms, a vermicompost and microgreens farm, was just launching their business as the pandemic hit. “We had just started out growing microgreens, with the plan to sell to local restaurants,” said farmer Melinda Cruzen. “[We] were literally handing them samples as they were having to shut down.” They were able to sell their microgreens directly to consumers, and became part of Square Roots’ delivery service, enabling them to succeed in a challenging first year in business.
As we approach this farm season with cautious optimism, we encourage everyone to continue supporting local farmers and food producers. Keep shopping at farm stands and farmers markets, join a CSA, and patronize retailers that stock local food. Amid all the disruption of the past year, we still have access to amazing local farm products, all thanks to our farmers.
