WALPOLE, N.H. — The Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) and Monadnock Food Co-op are pleased to announce four grant recipients for the 2018 cycle of Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, a grant opportunity to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy. Due to funds raised by customers rounding up their change at the co-op’s registers, a $5000 donation from the co-op itself and $5000 from a generous anonymous donor, a total of $14,050 has been awarded to four New Hampshire farms: Picadilly Farm of Winchester, Echo Farm of Hinsdale, Brookfield Farm of Walpole, and Tracie’s Community Farm of Fitzwilliam.
The Farm Fund supports several of the co-op’s goals and the CCCD’s commitment to ensuring the viability and profitability of local farms by supporting efficient farm production, expanding markets, and increasing access to local food. Tracie’s Community Farmwill purchase a row seeder in order to increase their seeding efficiency of wholesale crops and cover crops, allowing them to plant more crops during our short New England Spring. Brookfield Farm will create their certified organic, grass-fed ground beef labeling and promotional materials to reach customers who want their premium product. Echo Farm will replace their pudding filler machine with a more efficient machine capable of producing multiple sizes and better-quality pudding. Lastly, Picadilly Farm will expand their crop storage, enabling them to stretch sales of root vegetables into February, March, and April.
Fundraising is already underway for the 2019 Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund grant cycle. During May, July, August, October and November shoppers can ask to round up their change at the co-op registers to donate to the fund, or larger donations can be taken at www.cheshireconservation.org/
About the Cheshire County Conservation District
The Cheshire County Conservation District promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. Our goal is to encourage the stewardship of healthy soils, productive ecologically sound farms, diverse wildlife, productive sustainable forests, healthy watersheds, and clean water to ensure those resources are available for future generations. Established in 1945, the Conservation District operates out of Walpole, NH where we work alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners. For more information, contact Lola Bobrowski at 603-756-2988 ext.115 or email at lola@cheshireconservation.org
About the Monadnock Food Co-op
The Monadnock Food Co-op is a community-owned food store offering a diverse selection of local, organic and natural foods to the Monadnock Region. The Co-op is located at 34 Cypress Street in Keene, right off of Main Street down Eagle Court: www.monadnockfood.coop.
–Cheshire County Conservation District
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