Walpole, NH (April 2, 2025) – The Monadnock Food Co-op & Cheshire County Conservation District announce three first-time grant recipients for the 2025 Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund: Lee's Bees of Walpole, Monadnock Berries of Troy and Nubi River Farm of Peterborough! The Farm Fund proudly distributed $31,666 among these three farms. Since starting in 2017, the Farm Fund has awarded over $225,066 in grants to twenty-eight local farms!

The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, created in partnership with the Cheshire Country Conservation District, has a mission to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy. This grant supports several of the co-op's goals, including contributing to a healthy, sustainable food system, supporting local farmers and producers and building a strong, sustainable, and improving local economy. The Cheshire County Conservation District, fiscal agent and partner for the Farm Fund, supports farm viability in the region and promotes the responsible stewardship of natural and agricultural resources.

Lee's Bees, a honey, beeswax and bee pollen producer in Walpole, NH, will upgrade their beekeeping equipment to save time and increase efficiency to produce a higher quality product. Beekeeping equipment will include a honey creamer, pollen dryer, and honey warmer. These improvements will improve efficiency, while reducing labor inputs. Additionally, these improvement will allow for expansion of hives in future seasons as well as expansion of selling to wholesale markets. Learn more about Lee's Bees, here!

Monadnock Berries, a second generation fruit farm in Troy, NH, producing blueberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, and cut flowers, will add a walk-in cooler as well as infrastructure improvements to their pack house. Infrastructure improvements and upgrades will include improved lighting, metal shelving and packaging table, roof improvements, fans, and new flooring. The additional walk-in cooler will allow for increased storage and production throughout the growing season, and infrastructure improvements to the pack house will allow for increased productivity, efficiency, and quality of product. Learn more about Monadnock Berries, here!

Nubi River Farm, a diversified farm in Peterborough, NH, producing vegetables, cut flowers, pastured chickens, and eggs, will purchase a root barrel washer and commercial egg washer. This new equipment will allow Nubi River Farm to expand their wholesale production of root crops and chicken eggs. Additionally, these pieces of equipment will allow for increased productivity and on-farm efficiency. Learn more about Nubi River Farm, here!

“Our Farm Fund is an essential way to invest in the future of local, sustainable farming in our region," said Michael Faber, Monadnock Food Co-op General Manager. "Especially in these times, it helps ensure we have a healthy, local food system for our community now and into the future.”

Funds for this program are provided by donations from Monadnock Food Co-op and its shoppers. Additional funds come from the You Have Our Trust Fund.

Fundraising is already underway for the 2026 Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund grant cycle. During January and February co-op shoppers rounded up their change at the registers to donate to the fund.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/farm-fund

To make a tax-deductible donation to the fund, please contact Amanda Littleton at the Cheshire Country Conservation District at 603-756-2988 ext. 4 or donate anytime online at https://www.cheshireconservation.org/donate.

About the Monadnock Food Co-op

The Monadnock Food Co-op is a community-owned food store offering a diverse selection of local, organic and natural foods to the Monadnock region. The Co-op is located at 34 Cypress Street in Keene, right off of Main Street via Eagle Court: https://monadnockfood.coop/

About Cheshire County Conservation District

Cheshire County Conservation District's mission is to promote the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational resources. Contact Amanda Littleton for more information amanda@cheshireconservation.org, 603-756-2988 ext. 4: cheshireconservation.org.

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