Massachusetts Grown and Fresher Promotes Local Products
In partnership with: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Finding local products in Massachusetts couldn’t be easier, thanks to the Massachusetts Grown and Fresher program.
“The program was developed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources in 1982 as a tool to help growers distinguish their products grown here in the Bay State,” says Richard LeBlanc, MDAR MassGrown coordinator.
With a prominent logo featured on products, consumers can easily spot those grown or raised in Massachusetts.
“We encourage growers to use the logo to spotlight their products and offer promotional materials that feature the logo on posters, price cards and more,” LeBlanc says.
For processed and value-added foods, producers can use the Mass Made with Pride logo, which specifically highlights that category of products. Mary Jordan, MDAR director of the division of agricultural markets, says they plan to embark on a strategy to promote processed and value-added foods.
Mapping Out Local
But how do consumers know where to shop for local goods? The MassGrown map is an online tool listing everything from farmers markets and greenhouses to U-pick farms and maple sugar houses.
“The MassGrown map is MDAR’s most visited online tool with over 200,000 searches last year,” LeBlanc says. “It was created in 2010 as an online map of farms, and over the years, we’ve added more categories including agricultural fairs, CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), organic farms and honey. Now, it features over 1,500 locations.”
The map is mobile-friendly and set to automatically search within 5 miles of the user, making it easy to search on your phone.
While the Massachusetts Grown and Fresher program simplifies buying local for consumers, it also greatly helps producers as well.
See more: What’s Growing? Massachusetts Produce Calendar
MassGrown Exchange
The MassGrown Exchange, part of the larger program, is an online wholesale tool that facilitates business-to-business connections within the state’s agricultural industry.
“The idea of developing an in-house platform originated because of the impact of COVID-19 on the food supply,” LeBlanc says. “Feedback from the industry was that we needed to connect buyers and sellers. We developed a custom solution for our farmers.”
The MassGrown Exchange was unveiled in 2020 and now has more than 500 businesses and organizations registered, continuing to foster connections.
Learn more about the Massachusetts Grown and Fresher program and all it entails at mass.gov/massgrown.
See more: 4 Local Craft Beverages to Try in Massachusetts
Fun on the Farm
Throughout the year, Massachusetts residents can celebrate agriculture with themed months and agricultural fairs.
“I think a lot of people really want to know who is growing their food,” says Katie Rozenas-Hanson, MDAR agritourism/culinary tourism coordinator. “Agritourism destinations and themed months really give people that opportunity.”
MassGrown-themed months include maple sugar month in March, where consumers are encouraged to visit a sugar house or attend a maple breakfast. U-pick flower operations are celebrated in the spring, and June is dairy month. Consumers can pick fresh peaches and berries in July, and the autumn months offer U-pick apples, pumpkin patches and corn mazes.
“It’s a great way for people to see what farmers do and gain a greater appreciation,” Rozenas-Hanson says.
Another great activity that happens in the summer is agricultural fairs. Massachusetts has 39 fairs across the state – ranging from large fairs, community fairs, livestock shows and more. Fairs run from the end of May through mid-Ocrober throughout the state.
Learn more about Massachusetts ag fairs and agritourism destinations at mass.gov/agr.