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Dear Friends,
Rain or shine, outdoor farmers markets are opening one by one across our region. For farmers harvesting early spring crops and shoppers eager to eat local and reconnect with their community, it’s an exciting time of year!
SNAP matching programs are going strong at Berkshire-area farmers markets, thanks to the generosity of so many folks who supported BAV’s Market Match Fund during this spring’s successful community fundraising campaign. Our goal was to raise $45,000 during the month of April — and you came through with amazing dedication and tenacity to help us over the finish line and beyond!🎉🎉Thank you!!
In the spirit of gratitude and celebration, BAV is delighted to be tabling at the North Adams Farmers Market on opening day this Saturday, May 16, from 9am to 1pm. All are welcome to visit our booth for a few bites of local food and a raffle of products purchased from the market, plus one of our brand-new BAV hats! Our invite is below — please stop by to say hello!
This month, I am thrilled to introduce our newest staff member, farmer and educator Rose Cherneff. Rose joins us as Program Lead for the new Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Farm Business Accelerator that’s launching this fall. We will be sharing much more about this program soon, along with updates on other exciting new initiatives — including our two farm to institution projects linking local farms with schools, hospitals, and other institutional food buyers.
All of our work relies on your partnership and support. Please consider making a gift today to help increase the resilience and vibrancy of local agriculture.
Warmly,
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Rebecca Busansky, Executive Director
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Banner photo: Starts at Farm Girl Farm / North Plain Farm greenhouse | | NEW STAFF: WELCOME, ROSE! | | |
BAV is delighted to welcome Rose Cherneff to our staff. Rose joins us as Program Lead for the new Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Farm Business Accelerator — a brand-new program that will bring expert perspectives, peer learning, and one-on-one technical assistance to a cohort of farmers across our service area. Our goal with this program is to combine two of the tools we know serve farmers best — farmer-to-farmer learning and relationship-based technical assistance — in a rigorous, supportive, and sustained learning opportunity that will unfold over two to three years. Stay tuned for more details!
| | Rose brings an abundance of experience as a farmer and educator devoted to building connections between the past and the future through growing food, caring for the earth, and building community. They have spent over a decade working on a variety of production and educational farms growing vegetables, native perennials, and raising animals. Rose also runs an annual, cohort-based program through their business, Gardening for the Future, where participants learn timely, climate-resilient growing skills and support each other to create land-based projects that serve their communities. | | SPOTLIGHT: LENDING // FARM GIRL FARM | | |
Laura Meister knows seeds. A longtime farmer in the Berkshires as the owner-operator of Farm Girl Farm, Laura always grew her own starts — and now she’s focused on selling her seedlings to gardeners and other growers.
BAV caught up with Laura at her rented greenhouse space at North Plain Farm amid thousands of veggie, herb, and flower seedlings in different stages of growth — from lacy cosmos sprouts to bright green leafy lettuces ready to go in the ground. She sows 100 varieties of tomatoes alone, offering some in mixed packs so that customers can try intriguing heirlooms alongside familiar favorites.
To get everything ready to go by mid-May, Laura buys seeds in late winter. As any farmer can tell you, upfront costs like these are a challenge, coming at a time of year when cash runs low. “In the past, I was always bootstrapping — buying a little seed here and there,” she said.
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This winter, Laura worked with BAV to obtain a small loan to cover her seed purchases. The loan has a low interest rate and is structured to allow for repayment when Laura has cash in hand from her business. Thanks to that upfront money, she was able to buy seeds all at once — a more efficient approach that saved her time and money. “Having everything in place for the season created a lot less stress,” she said.
As Laura knows from her own experience and her work offering bookkeeping services to other farmers, many local farm businesses struggle to afford upfront material costs. Some farmers tap their savings, others put purchases on credit cards. For Laura, BAV’s loan offered a needed alternative to these riskier and more expensive options.
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BAV is thrilled to give a boost to Farm Girl Farm as part of our lending work to farms and food producers across the region. “This small loan — literal ‘seed money’ — has a big impact on Laura’s business,” BAV Lending Director Shannon Smith said.
Not only that, but Laura’s starts will soon be growing in gardens and fields across the Berkshires — helping to keep our agricultural system local from the seedling up.
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🌱Purchase seedlings!
From now through the end of the growing season, you can purchase seedlings on the Farm Girl Farm website, at the Berkshire Food Co-op and Ward’s Nursery, or right on the farm at the store at North Plain Farm. In addition to spring starts, Laura sows several rounds of crops like lettuces, beans, cukes, and squash so that plants are available for gardeners all season long.
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🌱Learn more about lending with BAV
BAV provides flexible, low-interest loans to farmers and food businesses across the Berkshire-Taconic region. We help farmers access working capital, purchase needed infrastructure and equipment, and take advantage of reimbursable state and federal grant funding. Since 2017, we have made $3.5 million in loans to strengthen our local food system. Learn more here and reach out to us to discuss your needs and learn how we can help!
| | 🐂🐔DIVERSIFIED LIVESTOCK CONFERENCE🐑🐖 | | |
Coming up soon — register now!!
Thursday, May 21, 9am-3pm
UConn Extension and BAV are excited to co-present our first Diversified Livestock Conference on May 21 at the Tolland Agricultural Center in Vernon, CT.
Join the conference for talks, learning, and networking with livestock producers in our area. BAV Program Manager Jake Levin will present on meat processing, with other speakers addressing topics including small-scale poultry production, prescribed grazing, and sheep farming in Connecticut. A post-conference session will present options for integrating product taste into marketing efforts. Learn more and register here! Conference fee is $50 (includes lunch and coffee break).
| | The Fabulous 413: Interview with BAV & Red Shirt Farm | | |
“There’s no way that we could have on a farm income raised the money to make that investment [in the Farm Store]. ... BAV was instrumental in a number of rounds — it was about five different grants that we put together to make that happen. ... BAV was there for every single one to give that upfront money to make it happen.” ~Jim Schultz, Red Shirt Farm
➡️Listen to the interview here!
| | Can local farms fill cafeteria trays? New effort aims to find out | | |
“We've been working on this farm-to-institution concept for a while at a slow simmer, and what this is really going to allow us to do is really kick it into high gear and do the planning around how to really connect all our small and midsize farmers with institutions.” ~Executive Director Rebecca Busansky
➡️Read the story here!
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We are pleased to highlight the 2026 Berkshire County Food Access Assessment, reflecting the input and efforts of food system representatives across the county. This valuable new report, prepared by Professor Anne Goodwin of MCLA, evaluates the assets, strengths, and challenges around food access in Berkshire County.
Included in the assessment are three best practice case studies for local food access: BAV’s Market Match Fund; the Pittsfield Farmers Market managed by Roots Rising; and the Southern Berkshire Regional School District's Food Box program. The report’s findings were discussed in early May at the 2026 Berkshire County Food Access Summit convened by Berkshire Bounty.
| | FARMER EVENTS & RESOURCES | | |
Grant opportunities
🎯BAV provides grant-writing and business planning support to help farmers submit competitive grant applications to access federal and state funding. Depending on your situation and the timing of the grant, we can help you move forward this year or help you plan for next year. Reach out to us to learn more!
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Application deadline: May 28
Massachusetts Food Ventures Grant Program. Supports Massachusetts food ventures that improve access to healthy, affordable food and expand economic opportunities in low-to-moderate income communities.
Application deadline: June 5
USDA Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) Grants. These grants support producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and value-added agricultural products. Programs include the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), with both turnkey grants and different tiers offered. See BAV’s summary of opportunities here.
Application deadline: June 14
New York Beginning Farmer Grant Program. Competitive funding opportunity that supports beginning farmers in building financially sustainable, independent, commercial agricultural enterprises throughout New York State.
Application deadline: August 7
USDA Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, Phase 4. Federal funding opportunity to help local processors expand capacity and upgrade equipment. Note that to be eligible, local processors must currently slaughter and process beef. However, funds can be used to improve processing for other species as well. Two grant tiers are available.
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Events and programs
Soil Health in Organic Systems — monthly calls through September
Join NOFA/Mass for the next free Soil Health Zoom call on Wednesday, May 20, 6:30-7:30pm. This call will focus on transplanting into variable spring conditions and practical bed prep strategies.
Small Farm Innovation Projects — CT farmers, deadline is May 31
UConn students, with support from faculty and agricultural providers, are offering technical and financial support for selected small farm innovation projects beginning in the fall of 2026. Fill out the application form by May 31.
CT FarmUP Program
The CT Resource Conservation & Development Area’s FarmUP and Veteran FarmUP programs offer technical assistance to new and existing farms and agricultural businesses. Farmers can sign up for one-on-one consultation for guidance and resources. Learn more here.
MDAR Freeze Damage Assessment
Massachusetts orchardists/fruit growers are invited to fill out information about crop damage due to the April 20-21 freeze. Complete the survey here.
Northern Nut Growers Association & Chestnut Growers of America Joint Conference
Registration is open for the 2026 conference, held July 31-August 3 at UMass Amherst. Early-bird registration price for full conference is $270 through June 15. See details and registration info here.
| | Your gift to BAV supports local farmers, expands local food access, and creates a more vibrant and viable local food system. During a time of challenge and change in our world, thank you for making a difference! | | | | |
