Local Beekeepers Adapt to a Changing Climate

John Jasmin of Bash Bish Honey in Hillsdale, NY

“I think there are a lot of things we can learn from honeybees, but one of the most important is their selflessness. Honeybees show us that unimaginable things become possible when we work together.”
-Dan Carr, Beavertides Farm, Falls Village, CT

Honeybees play a vital role in our local food system. Not only do they pollinate flowers, they spread pollen among apple trees, they buzz among blueberry bushes and pollinate all kinds of vegetables. These tiny insects contribute enormously to the abundance we enjoy across the Berkshires and beyond. Yet beekeepers throughout the region are facing growing challenges as climate change alters the conditions that honeybees rely on.

As a result of climate change, seasons in our region no longer follow familiar patterns. The increased frequency of extreme weather and natural disasters can have drastic effects on the bees, disrupting their social structure, navigation systems and foraging behavior. Rain and flooding can make it difficult for them to fly. High winds can cause them to become disoriented and lost, wasting precious energy returning to the hive. Similar to humans, bees struggle to thrive in extreme hot or cold conditions. In extreme heat, they struggle to regulate their body temperature, which in turn decreases their foraging efficiency and brood production. Invasive species such as small hive beetles and yellow-legged hornets, as well as the parasitic Varroa mite can infest a hive in the warmer conditions caused by climate change.

Read the full article here.

Marleen van Gulick and Dan Carr of Beavertides Farm, Antoine Fahey of Fahey Family Honey Farm

and John Jasmin of Bash Bish Honey

The 2026 Guide to Local Food & Farms is here!

From roadside farm stands and farmers markets to bakeries and pick-your-own favorites, this year's guide helps you discover and support the incredible farmers and food producers across the Berkshires and beyond.

Inside you'll find:

Local farms and food businesses
Seasonal shopping tips
Farmers market information
Ways to eat local year-round
And much more!

Pick up your free copy around the county or explore the Guide online by clicking the image below.

Save the date!

Join us on Thursday, October 1st at the Ruins at Sassafras Museum in New Lebanon, NY for Feast From the Fields.

Berkshire Grown can't wait to celebrate local food, farming and community with you. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening featuring delicious food, a silent auction, the chance to support a thriving local food system and much more!

Become a Feast From the Fields sponsor and help support local farms and food. Email Stephanie to get involved.

Berkshire Farmers Markets: open for summer!

Check out the list below to find fresh, local food near you!

Berkshire Area Farmers Market (Lanesborough)

Sat 8am–2pm, May 9-Nov 14

Copake/Hillsdale Farmers Market

Sat 9am–1pm, May 16–Nov 21

Great Barrington Farmers Market

Sat 9a–1pm, May 9–Nov 14

Lee Farmers Market

Sat 10am–2pm, May 23–Oct 10

Lenox Farmers Market

Fri 11am–3pm, May 22–Sep 11

Millerton Farmers Market

Sat 10am–2pm, May 16–Nov 28

New Marlborough Farmers Market

Sun 10am–1pm, Jun 7–Oct 11

North Adams Farmers Market

Sat 9am–1pm, May 16–Oct 31

Otis Farmers Market

Sat 9am–1pm, May 23–Oct 10

Pittsfield Farmers Market

at 9am–1pm, May 16–Oct 10
Sheffield Farmers Market

Fri 3–6pm, May 22–Oct 9

Stockbridge Farmers Market

Wed 2:30–5:30pm, Jun 24–Sep 30

West Stockbridge Farmers Market

Thu 3–6pm, May 21–Oct 1

Williamstown Farmers Market

Sat 9am–1pm, May 16–Nov 7

Berkshire Area Farmers
Earn Local Farmer Awards

The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation provides funds to selected local farms for necessary farm improvements. Their goal is to strengthen local farmers' ability to compete in the marketplace so that our region benefits from the environmental, health and economic advantages of local farming. Check out the full list of the 2026 awardees below.

Events

Williamstown Agricultural Commission sponsors the Third Annual Open Farm Day Sunday, July 12th, 10am-1pm. Visit nine local farms in and around Williamstown, MA to shop veggies, meats, eggs, syrups and more. Hike farm trails, join guided tours, visit livestock (cows, calves, pigs, chickens) and horses, meet farmers and see the beautiful views. Learn more here.

Participating farms include:

Caretaker Farm at 1210 Hancock Rd
Bigfoot Farm at 580 Oblong Rd
Chenail Farm at 481 Luce Rd
Clover Hill Farm at 249 Adams Rd
Cricket Creek Farm at 1255 Oblong Rd
Green River Farm at 2480 Green River Rd
Ioka Valley Farm at 3475 Hancock Rd
Peace Valley Farm at 85 Treadwell Hollow Rd
Wendling Farm at 753 Oblong Rd

Chaseholm Farm hosts a Sunday Supershow Sunday, July 12th 3-8pm in Pine Plains, NY. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy live music from the Deslondes, the Ulsterados and the Champagne Poneys. Learn more here.

Stockbridge Library hosts an author talk Saturday, July 18th 3-4pm with Rob and Elisa Bildner to discuss their new revised edition of The Berkshires Farm Table Cookbook. Learn more here.

Chesterwood is partnering with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for a nighttime wildlife demonstration in celebration of National Moth Week Friday, July 24th 8:30-11:30pm. Using illuminated sheets to attract moths and other nocturnal insects, join lepidopterist Matthew Rymkiewicz in identifying, photographing and observing these fascinating creatures. Learn more and register here.

Random Harvest hosts live music by Sweet Petunia Saturday, July 25th 7-8:30pm in Craryville, NY. Learn more here.

What We’re Reading

Including case studies and recommendations for policymakers, Farm Aid just published When Disaster Becomes the Norm: Climate Risk and the Future of Northeast Agriculture. Read more here.

As the Farm Bill moves through Congress, check out these newly published books by and about farmers that give context to the complex challenges within our food system.

Rob and Elisa Bildner just published a new revised edition of The Berkshire Farm Table Cookbook, with over 125 recipes celebrating seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Pick up your copy here.

Heart & Soil Collective is profiled in the newest Edible Berkshires, focusing on their efforts to connect local food to seniors and families through home delivery. Read the entire piece here.

The Carrot Seed, by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Crockett Johnson. First published in 1945 and never out of print, enjoy this beloved children's classic celebrating patience and determination. Pick up your copy here.