Times have changed, but the formula remains stuck in 1949. The wealth disparities between neighboring towns simply did not exist at anything like their current scale. The founders of the regional school system could not have foreseen the inequity their formula has imposed on most towns today.
To be eligible for an award, a farm must have gross sales of $10,000 or above, and be a member of either Berkshire Grown or Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture or located in one the four counties of Western Massachusetts.
The Local Farmer Awards provide local farmers with monetary support for equipment and physical farm improvements that will help them compete in the marketplace.
