Photo at Hornstra Farms in Norwell

The 2022 Local Food Guide is coming together quickly as we near our printing deadline. This extensive list of farms and food business will spread far across our region, reaching countless potential customers. You don't want to miss out, so make sure your listing is up to date today! The guide is a great resource for businesses and consumers, including detailed listings for farm stands and farmers markets, seafood and fisheries, restaurants, value-added producers and many more!

There is also additional space available for advertising, if you want to get extra attention on your business! Full details on different options are available at our website.

In February, SEMAP and Langwater Farm in Easton hosted USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Jenny Lester Moffitt, for a visit and conversation about food incentive programs in Massachusetts. We were also joined by Rebecca Davidson, Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coordinator at MDAR.

Throughout the afternoon, we walked from greenhouse to greenhouse under the shadow of the still-under-construction farm store, talking about the impacts of food incentive programs like SNAP/HIP both for consumers and for farmers.

Read our latest blogpost for more about our visit, and hear from Kevin and Kate from Langwater, plus some of our other farmers and service providers, about the value of these programs!

'Tis the season for lots of open food producer grants! Take a look at a few of the currently open grant, reimbursement, and award programs below, then check out a complete list on our webpage.

Two public hearings on the impacts of climate change on natural and working lands will be held on Thursday April 14 at 1pm and 6pm. This is part of the state's information gathering stage of implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act.

Unable to attend? Email Shannon at [email protected] and we will pass along your sentiments.

Join Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture for a virtual lunchtime discussion about how the federal Farm Bill can better support sustainable farms and communities. This is a great chance to weigh in on an $85.6 billion piece of legislation that affects everything from crop insurance to SNAP.

Pasa policy staff will give brief overview of what’s included in the current bill, set to expire in 2023, with an emphasis on provisions related to conservation, forestry, and energy. Then it’s your turn to share your experiences working with existing Farm Bill programs and your ideas for changes and improvements. Your input and comments will be collected and shared them with advocates and policymakers working on the next iteration of the bill.

This listening session is supported by a grant from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

New Entry Field Network Networking Event on Land Access This Friday

New Entry Field Network, a partnership between New Entry's National Incubator Farm Training Initiative and National Ag Apprentice Learning Network, is continuing their monthly networking series on Friday, April 8 with a conversation on "Group Land Tenure Models: Improving Land Access Beyond the Incubator/Apprenticeship Program." This event will feature Zachary Couture of Global Greens Farm at Lutheran Services Iowa, who will share details on their experiential farmer training program and their support for finding land for refugee farmers.

Rosasharn Farm in Rehoboth is offering approximately 1.5 acres of organically managed agricultural fields as a farm incubator this season. This opportunity may include resources such as the use of garden tools, on-site cool room, on-site farm stand and on site private one bedroom apartment.

Rosasharn are a cooperative farming operation in Rehoboth MA, near Providence RI and do not discriminate based on race, culture, gender, sexual orientation etc. If interested, please contact Anne Petersen for more information.

The nine Massachusetts Buy Local organizations - SEMAP, Berkshire Grown, Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod, Central Mass Grown, CISA, Island Grown Martha's Vineyard, Northeast Harvest, Sustainable Business Network, and Sustainable Nantucket - have just released our White Paper for 2022! This document is an important tool for sharing our work and message with the public and with legislators. As we continue to advocate for Buy Local funding in the state's FY23 budget, the White Paper is a crucial tool to engaging people in Buy Local work, introducing our mission and the importance of local food to so many.

Make sure to read the White Paper to learn more about the great Buy Local work across the entire state! And be sure to contact your state legislators to let them know you support and value Buy Locals and encourage them to fund the Buy Local organizations! Your support is greatly appreciated.

Under the Sun Farm, newly relocated but still in North Dighton, is offering CSA shares for the 2022 season! Options include a Full Share, great for veggie-heavy cooks or families of 4-6, and a Half Share, for smaller families or folks who just want a bit more local veggies when they eat at home.

Shares will run from late May thorugh early October. Pickup will be available at either the NEW Under the Sun Farmstand, or at the Swansea Spa!

With the weather turning and Spring in our presence, now is the perfect time to throw down a blanket, take in the sunshine and enjoy a great book or film.

Last week, Needham Community Farm hosted a screening of Soul Fire Farm's virtual keynote/mini documentary, "Uprooting Racism, Seeding Sovereignty." Co-founder Leah Penniman traces the tragic history of our current food system, mapping the course from stealing land from Indigenous people and the institution of chattel slavery, through racist targeting of black farmers by federal agencies, all the way to our present moment where inequities in our food system persist.

While painful and poignant, Penniman also presents a hopeful view of the future, sharing the work that Soul Fire Farm and many BIPOC farmers are doing to fight against this history and create a more equitable food system. We highly recommend you find an opportunity to purchase and view this keynote to share with your community. You can also watch the trailer for free here for a taste of the film and for some extra inspiration. Thank you again to Needham Community Farm for showing the film and hosting a great panel!

Have something you've seen, heard, or read that you think fellow farmers & foodies would like, too? Send your recommendation to [email protected].

As the growing season continues, SEMAP wants to update you on current and upcoming produce in season in Southeastern Massachusetts. We hope this helps you plan recipes and get the most out of local food!

Throughout April, be on the lookout for...

And don't forget about year-round local products like meat, dairy, eggs, and seafood!

Have you checked out our Local Food Jobs page recently? You'll find local food and farm job listings relevant to Southeastern Massachusetts. Here are a few picks currently on the page. Want to share a listing? Email [email protected].

Assistant Farm Manager at Gopal Farm Cape Cod in Sandwich

Farmers Market Associate at Fieldstone Kombucha in New Bedford

Kitchen Assistant and Field Worker at Round the Bend Farm in South Dartmouth

Seasonal Farm Crew at Aeonian Farm in Westport

Multiple Leadership Positions at CommonWealth Kitchen in Dorchester