MassDevelopment.com: Press Room: Massachusetts Farm-to-School Project Releases Feasibility Study for Statewide Locally Grown Foods Initiative

Massachusetts Farm-to-School Project Releases Feasibility Study for Statewide Locally Grown Foods Initiative
March 12, 2007

Contacts:
Kelly Erwin, MA Farm-to-School Project, 413-253-3844
Adam Bickelman, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086

The Massachusetts Farm to School Project – a collaboration sponsored by MassDevelopment, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Agricultural Preservation Corporation and Project Bread – today released a study conducted by Dr. Dan Lass of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Department of Resource Economics entitled Assessing Potential Demand and Supply for Farm-To-School Programs in Massachusetts. The study concludes that the supply of locally produced food and the demand for those products from Bay State colleges and universities can effectively support a direct-purchasing program aimed at increasing revenues for Massachusetts farmers, while providing students across the state with healthier meal options.

"After speaking to students, dining services directors and farmers across the Commonwealth, I realized there was strong demand for a program focused on linking Bay State farmers with higher-ed purchasers," said Kelly Erwin, manager of the Massachusetts Farm to School Project. "But in order to move forward with the program, we needed to quantify the supply of and demand for locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy and livestock. Many thanks to MassDevelopment for sponsoring this important study."

MassDevelopment President/CEO Robert L. Culver unveiled the study today at the Massachusetts Farm to School Project’s biannual meeting held at Fitchburg State College. Along with the Farm to School sponsors, Bay State farmers, higher-ed and food industry representatives also attended the meeting. Specifically, researchers found that with a user friendly purchasing mechanism in place, Massachusetts colleges and universities could seek to purchase as much as 6.5 tons of locally grown fruits and vegetables annually. While this would only represent 3.3% of current production, farmers could farm significant additional acreage to support the increased investment in locally grown foods.

"This study is an important first step in establishing a program intended to support a vital, yet shrinking segment of the Commonwealth’s economy," said Culver. "In the coming growing season, we will implement an online purchasing portal to facilitate colleges' and universities' direct investment in Massachusetts farmers."

Launched in 2004 by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Massachusetts Farm to School Project seeks to pair Bay State colleges and universities with local providers of diary, livestock and produce. The project’s goal is to stabilize and grow the Commonwealth’s agricultural sector, while providing Massachusetts students with healthier, tastier food options. Since its inception, the Project has helped pair more than 42 schools, kindergarten through college, with dozens of fruit, vegetable and dairy farmers from the Berkshires through the Pioneer and Blackstone Valleys, to north and southeastern Massachusetts.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development authority, works with businesses, financial institutions and local officials to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. Between FY 2004 and FY 2006, MassDevelopment financed or managed 589 projects statewide representing an investment of more than $4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are supporting the creation of 5,505 housing units and more than 23,000 jobs: 12,381 permanent and 10,679 construction-related.

Those interested in reviewing a copy of the study, or speaking to farmers and food services directors involved in the program should contact the Massachusetts Farm to School Project or MassDevelopment at the contact information referenced above.