BOSTONĀ — The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded $300,000 in grants to 21 Massachusetts farms to install practices that improve food safety within their operations. The Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP) is a competitive grant program that allows agricultural operations to complete food safety upgrades on their farms, enabling the operations to meet buyer demands, increase consumption of local food and protect public health by reducing food safety risks.
āAs the demand for locally grown food continues to grow, farmers have an increasing need to improve their operations to meet marketplace demands and safety requirements,āĀ said Governor Charlie Baker.Ā āOur administration is proud to continue supporting Massachusetts agriculture by helping produce farmers proactively implement upgrades to ensure that food safety risks are managed, marketplace needs are addressed, and their businesses continue to grow.ā
āImproving food safety practices and equipment is necessary to ensure Massachusettsā farmers are producing the highest quality produce for consumers across the Commonwealth,āĀ said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.Ā āThese grants help farmers modernize their operations and strengthen the local food supply in a safe and sustainable way.ā
This program focuses on assisting produce operations as they work towards upgrading on-farm infrastructure and equipment to meet regulatory requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), third party audit requirements required by buyers, and general farm food safety improvements to minimize food safety risks from harvest to market.
āBy ensuring that our agricultural businesses have the tools, technical assistance and financial support to manage food safety risks, the AFSIP grant program helps ensure the Commonwealth has access to fresh, local food that is grown and harvested according to food safe practices,āĀ said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton.
āA goal of our Department is to help keep the Massachusettsā food supply safe and secure. Assisting farmers through both grants and technical assistance help modernize their operations, open new market channels, and meet regulatory requirements for both the good of the farmers and for consumers,āsaid Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux.Ā āWe are committed to the goal of ensuring food safety from farm to table.ā
The following local farms are receiving grants through AFSIP:
Farm Name | City | County | Award | Project |
Atlas Farm, LLC | Deerfield | Franklin | $10,750 | Washing Line |
Dargoonian Bros. Farm, Inc. | Andover | Essex | $14,500 | Bird Netting in Produce Packing Area |
Allandale Farm, Inc. | Chestnut Hill | Suffolk | $25,000 | Post-Harvest Equipment; Washable Surfaces |
Joe Czajkowski Farm | Hadley | Hampshire | $10,000 | Upgrade Packing Area |
NaMac Farm | Haverhill | Essex | $9,800 | Wildlife Fencing |
Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm, Inc. | Millis | Norfolk | $25,000 | Washing & Packing Upgrades |
Lakeside Organic of Hadley, LLC | Hadley | Hampshire | $10,750 | Produce Storage Upgrades |
Davidian Bros. Farm | Northborough | Worcester | $25,000 | Apple Dunk Tank Replacement |
2 Friends Farm, Inc. | Attleboro | Bristol | $18,500 | Automated Washing & Sterilization |
Freedom Food Farm, LLC | Raynham | Bristol | $24,000 | Produce Washing & Storage |
Friends of Holly Hill Farm, Inc. | Cohasset | Norfolk | $5,090 | Wash Stand |
Kielbasa Orchards, LLC | Hadley | Hampshire | $1,875 | Plastic Apple Bins |
Heart Beets Farm | Berkley | Bristol | $1,500 | Produce Washer |
Dick’s Market Garden, Inc. | Lunenburg | Worcester | $25,000 | Washing & Packing Facility |
Mycoterra Farm | South Deerfield | Franklin | $25,000 | Walk-in Cooler |
Kettle Brook Farms | Charlton | Worcester | $12,000 | Plastic Bins |
Manheim Farm | South Deerfield | Franklin | $11,235 | Parsnip Washer; Vegetable Cull Area |
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project | Dracut | Middlesex | $6,400 | Portable Restrooms; Washing Line; Portable Hand Washing |
Bardwell Farm | Hatfield | Hampshire | $3,600 | Harvest Equipment; Cleaning Tools |
Little Brook Farm & Garden | Saugus | Essex | $25,000 | Washing & Packing Facility |
Slip Away Farm | Edgartown | Dukes | $10,000 | Washing Station; Walk-in Cooler |
āIām thrilled to see so many farms in the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district be awarded grants to improve food safety,āĀ said State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton).Ā Ā āWestern Massachusetts is the breadbasket of the state, and these grants will help our farmers to continue growing the fresh, local produce that our food system relies on.ā
āThese grant awards show the state’s commitment to both local farms and consumers across Massachusetts,āĀ said State Representative Daniel Carey (D-Easthampton).Ā āIt is an excellent opportunity for these farms to upgrade their facilities and equipment ensuring the best possible fresh, local food is available.Ā I am especially excited to see farms across the state receiving awards, including several in western Mass.ā
āOne of the most important things we can do to maintain the health and well-being of our constituents is to ensure that their food is processed safely,āĀ said State Senator Dean A. Tran (R-Fitchburg).Ā āI thank the Baker and Polito Administration for their continued efforts to ensure that the residents of the Commonwealth can live heathy lives.ā
āThis $25,000 grant from the Department of Agricultural Resources will help Dick’s Market Garden continue to be able to offer high quality, locally grown produce to their customers,āĀ said State Representative Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg).Ā āI want to thank the Baker-Polito Administration for their support of small, family-owned farms in my district and across the state.ā
By implementing eligible upgrades, the farms will be able to protect public health, sustain public confidence in the food system, meet buyer requirements, and follow new regulations under the Federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
–Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Relations
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