By: Anna Gilbert-Muhammed, Food Access Director
|
|
NOFA/Mass is excited to share that the next season of our Farmshare Program will begin in June 2024!
The Farmshare Program connects families in the community with free farm-fresh produce from local farms, delivered weekly as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) basket. Through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, NOFA/Mass is able to purchase market-price CSA shares from local BIPOC farmers, and work with other organizations to distribute the shares to underserved community members in Springfield and in Berkshire County.
This program not only expands community access to fresh, locally grown, nutritious food, it also supports local farmers.
The farmers participating in this program are able to add more families to their CSA programs and can therefore count on regular, direct-to-consumer sales of their produce through much of the year. Direct sales often mean that farmers get to keep a higher portion of the value of their food, making their businesses more financially sustainable.
NOFA/Mass is partnering with the Indian Orchard Citizens Council to distribute shares to community members in the Indian Orchard neighborhood. The shares are provided by Hameed and Ayo Bello of AgricOrganics, an urban farm growing greens, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beets, and more in Wilbraham, MA.
Hameed and Ayo’s journey into farming is driven by a deep sense of responsibility to cultivate food in a way that nourishes both people and their community. The Bellos say, “Growing and consuming healthy food is fundamental to overall health and well-being.” By prioritizing health, sustainability, and community well-being, they endeavor to make a meaningful impact through AgricOrganics, advocating for a more resilient and equitable food system that prioritizes access to nutritious, locally grown food for all.
AgricOrganics is interested in promoting community health, food access, and nutrition education. In addition to NOFA/Mass’s Farmshare program, they are involved with other food access and“food-as-medicine” programs, like providing farmshares for seniors through Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), distributing produce boxes through the area Foodbank, and the Baystate Health Open Air Market.
Hameed values the NOFA/Mass Farmshare program because it allows him to align his business with his values. He says he appreciates the program’s “commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture while increasing access to fresh, locally grown food for community members. The NOFA/Mass Farmshare program aligns with values of sustainability, community engagement, and healthy food access.”
He also appreciates the way the program engages consumers and allows him to connect with community members who share his values but might not otherwise be able to afford to participate in a local CSA. He says, “It empowers consumers to make informed choices about their food while supporting local farmers. As a farmer participating in this program, I value the opportunity to connect with customers who share these values and appreciate the importance of supporting local agriculture.”
AgricOrganics will be opening a small store in Springfield in the summer of 2024 and will continue to work with the Indian Orchard Community throughout the season. We’re proud to partner with them in our Farmshares program!
Farmers of Color: Have a Story to Share?
Black & Indigenous farmers are responsible for countless contributions to agriculture, yet they rarely receive adequate credit for these contributions. Today, Latinx farmworkers are the invisibilized force behind US agriculture. These same farmers of color have been prevented from owning land, never given land promised to them and face tremendous challenges in securing land today. Still, farmers of color persevere. Many are making strides to get back to the land, feed communities, and take control of land, soil, food, local economies and more.
The Natural Farmer, the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) newspaper, is seeking stories highlighting the varied experiences of farmers of color. We’re looking for:
-
Stories of celebration,
-
Stories of the challenges that BIPOC face when farming in such a white-controlled industry,
-
Historical articles about agriculture and land theft in the US,
-
Stories about ecology and culture, tradition as it relates to farming,
-
Articles about politics and the political climate that impacts BIPOC growers and
-
Articles of community & grassroots efforts by farmers of color.
How can you work for more equity for farmers of color? As a farmer of color, what inspires you? What do you grow? Uplift a story about a BIPOC farmer you know or submit one of your own.
Compensation of $100-$150 per article published is available, depending on whether the article is published as a cover article and the quality of the images provided.
*Submission deadline – November 1, 2024.
Contact [email protected] with questions or visit www.TheNaturalFarmer.org
