(WESTFIELD 11/5/2021) On Friday, November 5th, Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) organized a local farm tour for the Western Mass legislators in Agawam and Southampton in collaboration with the American Farmland Trust, CISA (“Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture”), Land for Good, and the Holyoke Food and Equity Collective. The goal of the tour, according to Senator Velis, was for legislators to get a better understanding of the challenges that local farmers in Massachusetts face and to discuss ways that the Legislature can support them.
“Local farms are a critical backbone of our Commonwealth, from providing fresh food to our communities to contributing to our local economies,” said Senator Velis. “Many of our farms faced enormous challenges even before COVID-19, and as we have seen from today’s visits, those issues have only grown during the pandemic. It is critical that–we as legislators–are doing everything we can to support our local farmers and that starts with discussions like these today.”
Senator Velis was joined by Representative Kelly Pease (R-Westfield), Representative Pat Duffy (D-Holyoke), Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton), and Representative Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick).
“Our farms in Western Massachusetts are putting food on the tables of families not only here but throughout the Commonwealth. We are thrilled that our local legislators are joining Senator Velis to hear directly from farmers, their ideas, hopes and challenges, for growing a food system with deeper resilience, access, and equity for all,” shared Philip Korman, Executive Director, CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture).
The tour started at E. Cecchi Farm on Springfield Street in Feeding Hills. Celebrating its 75th year, the vegetable farm has been in the same family for three generations and makes seasonal food donations to the surrounding communities. After touring, participants discussed the Massachusetts Healthy Incentive Program and how the Legislature can support farmers donating food.
The tour then moved to Fletcher Farm, a dairy farm on Gunn Road in Southampton. The number of dairy farms in Massachusetts has declined more than 85% since 1978, but the remaining 117 dairy farms produce over 20 million gallons of milk annually, with a market value of more than $60 million. Legislators toured the farm’s newly constructed farm stand, where their conversation focused on how to support the Massachusetts Dairy Industry and expand Food Insecurity Grant Programs that many communities have taken advantage of.
The tour wrapped up at Glendale Ridge Vineyard in Southampton. Starting with just 120 grapevines in 2010, the farm has expanded to five acres of different varieties of grapevines. While the vineyard has a wine-tasting room, it was shut down at the beginning of March 2020, and now tastings are held outside. After touring, participants discussed the great impact that climate change has had on farms and possible legislation for agricultural and horticultural lands that aims to mitigate these effects.
“Western Massachusetts farmers work tirelessly to grow food for residents across the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district. American Farmland Trust is grateful for Senator Velis and our local legislators’ openness and willingness to have conversations with farmers about their passion for agriculture and the day-to-day challenges of being a producer in the district. It is a thrill to engage legislators on farms, collaborating on ways to develop policy that supports farmers who sell local products in communities, including those that are historically underserved like Holyoke. Our working lands are at the heart of our food system. We look forward to working with Senator Velis and other local legislators in advancing changes that will contribute to making agriculture resilient in the face of climate change throughout the Commonwealth,” said Chelsea Gazillo, New England Policy Manager for American Farmland Trust.
Senator Velis said he hopes to take the lessons from the tour back to the Legislature to collaborate with his colleagues on policies that address these challenges and expand supports for farms.
###