'Locally grown' food holds potential for a greater bounty
Janet Pierce
The potential impact of “locally grown” food and farm products on the Central Massachusetts economy is incredibly promising. Worcester County has the most farms of all Massachusetts counties (1,560), and according to the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Worcester County ranks sixth among U.S. counties for direct sales of farm products to consumers. In addition, trends show that locally grown food is among consumers' top menu choices. For these and many other reasons, Central Massachusetts' agricultural economy is positioned to flourish.
Support and enthusiasm for Central Massachusetts' farms is evidenced by support for “Central Mass Grown (CMG): Locally Grown in the Heart of the Commonwealth,” a newly established “buy local” initiative. This fills a huge void in the state for "buy local" campaigns. Although the commonwealth is home to seven other, similar coalitions, from the Cape and islands to the Berkshires and North Shore, CMG is bringing farms to the table in Central Massachusetts. Launched in October 2014, Central Mass Grown has 132 committed members, including:
• 74 farms, growing centers and nurseries;
• 16 restaurants, retailers and caterers;
• Six producers, distributors and wholesalers; and
• 27 community supporters.
Spread out across Worcester, Franklin, Hampshire, Middlesex and Norfolk counties, Central Mass Grown is gaining widespread acceptance and credibility as the brand by which Central Massachusetts agriculture gets recognized and supported for the quality and abundance that's available. CMG will launch its first directory and host its first formal networking event at the end of March. The directory will be available online shortly after its release. Also, expect a mobile app in the near future. CMG's mission is to promote the purchase of local agricultural products and foster education about its benefits to health, communities, the economy and the environment. These benefits include enjoying fresher food that tastes better, supporting local families and employing more people in the agricultural economy, keeping taxes down, and reducing carbon footprints. The organization's goal is to promote collaborative marketing and provide a Central Mass Grown brand.
The latest efforts to support the local agricultural economy stem from results of a survey that the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) administered last year. Farmers throughout the region showed clear interest in expanding into additional regional and local markets, as well as a willingness to engage with a regional food hub. This hub, or a series of “sub-hubs” in and around Worcester would help farmers reduce travel times and fuel costs while creating the potential for a co-operative, food-processing kitchen. Farmers could then safely make, bake and create more value-added products to sell. These efforts, along with the region's long-standing support for local goods, are sure to help propel the Central Massachusetts economy throughout the coming decades.
Janet Pierce is a board member of Central Mass Grown. You can learn more about CMG at www.centralmassgrown.com, as well as on Facebook (facebook.com/centralmassgrown) and Twitter (@CentralMaGrown).
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