Nice article in the local newspaper about the many small farms in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts that are experimenting with innovations. Check it out here.
According to the article, Joe Swartz decided to launch an online ordering system four years ago for the greens, root crops and farm products produced by his family’s farm in Amherst – and other local farms. In late May, Swartz organized a year-round farmers market that features products from 15 local farms.
The North Amherst Farmers Market operates in the parking lot of Watroba’s Market on Sunderland Road every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the winter, Swartz said, it will move inside a building at Swartz Family Farm on Meadow Street.
“This just seemed like the way to evolve,” he said. “There’s a big demand from the public and we have such great farms. Our biggest challenge is to find ways to let people know what we’re doing. Right now, we’re a best-kept secret.”
UMass Sustainable Food and Farming 