In Berkshire County, roughly 10 percent of residents are food insecure, which means they do not have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
And at the center of this work is connecting people who are already interested in local food and farm-to-table ideas but don’t have on the ground experience; getting folks on the farms and in the field.
“Our day is about collaborating — in particular the collaboration of farmers,” said Barbara Zheutlin, executive director of Berkshire Grown, to an impressive group of participants who gathered at Sky View Farm in Sheffield to kick off the day-long farm tour.
"The concept of eating healthy shouldn't be unique but sadly it is. If we treat people equally regardless of their economic status, it becomes habitual and I think we can have a healthy Massachusetts."
--- State Rep. William ‘Smitty’ Pignatelli
“Community Supported Agriculture is a relationship between farmers and consumers. It is sharing the risk and also sharing the bounty... the term was literally coined in my dining room in 1986.”
-- Elizabeth Keen, owner of Indian Line Farm in South Egremont, Massachusetts
This year there are 140 members who pick up their shares on Tuesday or Friday from June 1 through to the end of October. Indian Line also offers working shares, which is a discount in exchange for 30 hours of work on the farm. Some people will work the barn on pickup days, and others help in weeding or harvesting.
“We wish all the local markets good success in supporting farmers and customers. We welcomed the GB Farmers' Market because we believed our missions to be in good alignment and worked hard last year to support a mutually successful season.”
--- Statement from Great Barrington Fairgrounds, upon learning the Farmer’s Market would move back to downtown Great Barrington after one year at the Fairgrounds
BerkshireSpeaks: Seven pioneering speakers will present their visions of what it will take for the Berkshires to thrive and prosper in the coming decades.
