In recognition of the vital role women play in feeding communities around the world, the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The designation spotlights the essential but often under-recognized contributions women make across agrifood systems—from growing crops and raising livestock to managing businesses, stewarding land and strengthening local food economies. 

Women have long been an integral part of agriculture, but their contributions have not always been visible. Today, that is beginning to change. At Berkshire Grown, we’re proud to celebrate the women farmers of the Berkshires whose dedication, innovation and leadership help sustain our region’s vibrant local food system.  

In Massachusetts, 5,691 women farmers steward nearly 297,000 acres of farmland, according to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture. That’s 43% of all farm producers in Massachusetts! More than 47,000 of those acres are located in the Berkshires, where approximately 200 farms are at least partly owned and operated by women.  

Across the region, women farmers grow vegetables, raise livestock, produce maple syrup, manage orchards and preserve working farmland for future generations. Women farmers also bring fresh perspectives to the industry, helping shape farming practices and workplace cultures to reflect their values. The growing presence of women in farming reflects broader changes throughout the agricultural sector. Some women are building new farm businesses from the ground up, while others are stepping into ownership and management roles on established family farms. Together, they are helping shape an agricultural future where diverse experiences, perspectives and priorities strengthen the resilience of local food systems.  

Justamere Tree Farm, an all-women-owned maple business in the Hilltowns of western Massachusetts is co-owned by three women. Deb Rocque, Kelly Auer and Kim Trust are passionate conservationists who first met while working in Alaska in 2004. Inspired by their shared love of nature and the outdoors, they launched their maple operation in 2020.  

“We received so much support and encouragement when we started this endeavor,” said Trust. “But we are a minority in a male-dominated field, and we have encountered some individuals who don’t take us seriously. Luckily, we don’t take them seriously!”  Their commitment and expertise have earned them leadership roles well beyond their own sugar bush. Trust serves as President of the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association Board and represents the maple industry on the State Board of Agriculture. Rocque serves on the Worthington Select Board, bringing agricultural perspectives into local government and community decision-making. 

Read the full article here.

Advancing Our Work:

from the Executive Director's Desk

Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't, but have to keep moving forward with commitment and a clear purpose. 


As I described in previous newsletters, I have been leaning into my role as an advocate for state funding to purchase food from local farms for distribution to local food pantries. Working with an energetic group of Executive Directors from nonprofits across the Commonwealth, we represented over 600 farmers, 31 nonprofits and 740 food access sites in Massachusetts, all of whom benefited from the Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) funding in unique ways to serve food insecure community members AND local farmers.

One in three Massachusetts households experience food insecurity. LFPA funding enabled more than 30 programs across the state to purchase fresh, nutrient-dense food directly from Massachusetts farms and fisheries for distribution to food access sites. In the Berkshires, LFPA supported $740,000 in purchases from 38 regional farms for our Farm to Food Access program. We worked closely with our partner, Berkshire Bounty, to distribute the local food to 24 food access sites across the County that serve 16,000 community members each week. The LFPA program created reliable markets for local farmers and consistent access to fresh, nutritious local food to food insecure families. Further context and data can be found in this letter signed by 80 Massachusetts farmers, fishermen, and nonprofit organizations responsible for implementing LFPA programs between 2022 and 2025.

Our goal in this advocacy process was to get $7 million into the State budget for FY27. Unfortunately, this is a very tight budget year, and despite incredible support in both the House and the Senate, those funds did not make it into next year’s budget. We are incredibly grateful to the many State legislators who advocated on behalf of this funding push, especially Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, each of whom sponsored amendments to the Senate and House budgets.


LFPA funding reminded us that communities are strongest when everyone has access to nourishing food, and when the people who grow and distribute that food can count on stable, dignified work. The programs built with LFPA funds embodied values that extend far beyond agriculture. They reflected a belief in fairness, in collaboration and in the power of local relationships to build resilient local food systems. While we did not win this round, a core group of us plan to move forward with some innovative ideas that could build a powerful, collaborative local food system in Massachusetts.