GRANBY — A program that provides locally grown, farm-fresh produce to low-income elderly residents — for free — also is boosting the income of area farmers and building community. What’s not to love?
A gathering at Dave’s Natural Garden Thursday gave growers, consumers, organizers, and legislators an opportunity to share the love.
“It’s a win-win for the Valley,” said state Rep. Daniel R. Carey, D-Easthampton, the program’s head cheerleader in the Legislature.
Carey was referring to the Senior FarmShare Program overseen by the organization known as CISA — Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture. CISA’s program provides produce from 13 area farms to more than 500 seniors with low incomes across Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counties. The funding to purchase the fresh produce — $75,000 this year — comes from the state’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
As it has since 2004, CISA’s program provides low-income seniors with 10 weeks of seasonal, fresh vegetables purchased directly from local farms. Seniors with a demonstrated need sign up in the spring to receive weekly shares of freshly harvested produce that is distributed through senior centers, councils on aging and service agencies throughout Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden counties. Participants commit to the program for the duration, paying $10 towards the total market value of $135. This year, FarmShare will supply seniors through 17 distribution sites. Since 2004, FarmShare has paid $735,700 to local farmers for their produce.
The occasion for Thursday’s gathering at the Amherst Road farm of Dave Kaskeski was the announcement that Dave’s Natural Garden and two other farms have recently joined the program. Carey, who successfully advocated for a state funding increase for the program from $50,000 to $75,000, said he hopes to see the program expand throughout Massachusetts.
Kaskeski and Program Director Kelly Coleman noted that many of the elderly participants have related that they either grew up on a farm or grew up next to one. The connection to the farmers — who personally deliver their produce to the senior distribution centers — has enriched a sense of community, they reported. Several program participants were on hand for the gathering. They were given a tour of Dave’s Natural Garden by the farm’s business manager, Meghan Hastings, reinforcing that community connection.
Also present at Thursday’s event were members of the western Massachusetts legislative delegation, all supporters of the program: Rep. Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Rep. Jake Olivera, Rep. Patricia A. Duffy and a member of Sen. Eric P. Lesser’s staff.