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128 Local Farmers Receive More Than $270,000 in Grants from HGCF

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Daily News

AGAWAM — The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF), and its Local Farmer Award partners, announced the 2026 recipients, granting more than $270,000 to 128 farmers across Western Massachusetts. With this year’s awards, the program’s total investment in local agriculture surpasses $2 million — marking a major milestone in its 12-year commitment to strengthening the regional food system.

“Reaching the $2 million mark reflects our foundation’s and our partners’ deep, ongoing commitment to supporting the hardworking farmers of Western Massachusetts,” said Harold Grinspoon, founder of the Local Farmer Awards and the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation.  

Philanthropist Steve Davis, a long-time supporter of the program, emphasized the real-world impact of the awards: “I am proud to support these awards, which help farmers strengthen their operations and bring fresh, local food directly to our communities.”

Since the program’s launch, the Local Farmer Awards have helped fund practical on-the-ground improvements such as infrastructure, equipment, and production upgrades to help farmers grow and sustain their operations. The awards help farmers improve efficiency, expand production, and strengthen the region’s local food system.

The 2026 winners represent a diverse mix of farms of varying sizes across the four counties of Western Mass. Funds of up to $2,500 will help support projects such as:

  • Fencing, cattle chutes, headlocks, calf housing, and feeding systems;
  • Greenhouses, hoophouses, energy curtains, and irrigation inside structures;
  • Cold storage, wash stations, and processing equipment; and 
  • No-till preparation, cover cropping, composting, and pest management.

Kitchen Garden Farm, a vegetable farm in Sunderland, plans to purchase harvesting crates with support from the Local Farmer Awards.  Co-owner Lilly Israel explained, “Having these reusable stackable crates makes harvesting and storage more efficient and environmentally friendly,” said co-owner Lilly Israel.

This program is made possible through community funding from the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y, the Mass. Society for Promoting Agriculture, and the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation. Additional support is provided by PeoplesBank; Ann & Steve Davis; the Elizabeth & Charles D’Amour Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Audrey & Chick Taylor; Andrew Associates; DeNucci, Crosby, & Associates – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Eastern States Exposition; Farm Credit East; Hood; Three County Fair; bankESB; Baystate Health,  Franklin First Federal Credit Union; & Country Bank.

Application Now Open for Local Farmer Awards for Infrastructure Improvements

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Biz Tips & Industry News Daily News Green Business News

AGAWAM — Farmers in Western Mass. are invited to apply for Local Farmer Awards of up to $2,500. These awards are for capital/infrastructure improvement projects related to growing, harvesting, and processing that will help farms compete in the marketplace. The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y and with the support of other funders, is entering the ninth year of the awards program, which has helped more than 235 farmers carry out a total of 474 projects.

Some examples of how the awards have been used include electric fencing, no-till equipment, irrigation improvements, frost-free water systems, feed troughs, and shade cloth for greenhouses.

“Farmers don’t typically ask for help,” philanthropist and project founder Harold Grinspoon said. “They are genuinely appreciative of these awards and use the money in creative ways for projects to help their farms grow.”

To be eligible, farms must have gross sales of $10,000 or above and either be a member of buy-local organizations Berkshire Grown or Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) or farm in one the four counties of Western Mass. For a full list of eligibility requirements and application information, farmers are encouraged to visit www.farmerawards.org. The deadline for applying is Jan. 31.

Funders Reach Million-dollar Milestone in Awards to Local Farms

By
Daily News

AGAWAM — The Local Farmer Awards, a funding initiative launched in 2015 by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF) and Big Y Foods, reached the million-dollar milestone in May.

Over the past eight years, more than 470 grants have been made to farmers in Western Mass. and the Berkshires. Along with the Big Y and HGCF are 25 generous community and individual donors including Ann and Steve Davis, Charles and Elizabeth D’Amour, PeoplesBank, DeNucci Group at Merrill Lynch, Farm Credit East, HP Hood LLC, Audrey & Chick Taylor, Baystate Health, Country Bank and others.

“Hitting a million dollars in giving is a proud milestone in providing help, support, encouragement to our local farmers and their families,” said Big Y President and CEO Charles D’Amour. “The multiplier effect of these awards ripples throughout our Western Mass region and provides the important underpinning of our regional economy.”

Last month, 74 farmers primarily located in Western Massachusetts received the 2022 awards — checks of up to $2,500 for infrastructure improvements. Totaling $165,500, these grants help sustain robust projects related to growing, harvesting, and processing. Maple farmers at Justamere Tree Farm in Worthington launded the installation of its new vacuum monitoring system. “The award will enable us to monitor the vacuum within our entire 100-acre sugarbush which negates the need for endless hours of searching for leaks in poor weather conditions while also reducing energy costs. It will be a game changer for us.”

Program director Cari Carpenter said that the publicity generated by the Local Farmer Awards draws much needed attention to the productivity of all farms in the region, whether or not they have been award recipients. “We want to celebrate and encourage every farm in Western Mass and the Berkshires, not only our winners. Happily, the program returned in March to an in-person appreciation party, including all 120 farms within our applicant reach this year. Donors were able to grasp the impact of what they are doing — and the potential to do even more.”