Presentation for 2018 Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference in Plymouth, MA

2. Massachusetts Sustainable
Campuses & Communities
Conference
Karen Schwalbe
Executive Director
Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP)
http://semaponline.org
Organic, Local, Sustainable Food

3. Our Mission
To preserve and
expand access to
local food and
sustainable
farming in
Southeastern
Massachusetts
through research
and education.

4. Our Goals
● Be a responsive and trusted resource for local
agriculture
● Continue to work with existing partners and develop
new partnerships to bring more support and
guidance to bear for our local farmers and growers
● Preserve and expand access to local food and
sustainable farming in Southeastern Massachusetts

5. Why do we do it?
● Freshest and tastiest fruits
& vegetables
● Support family farmers
● Protects the environment
● Promote humane
treatment of animals
● Know where our food
comes from
● Connect with our
community

6. TWILIGHT EVENTS
LOCAL FOOD GUIDE
WINTER NETWORKING MEETING
LEGISLATIVE FARM TOURS
AG & FOOD CONFERENCE
OUTREACH
Current Programs

7. Twilight Events
● Workshops for farmers,
gardeners, and those with
a general interest
○ 2018 Events
÷ Strawberry Production
○ Spring Rain Farm
Taunton
÷ Pastured Poultry
○ Copicut Farm
÷ Raising Alpacas
○ Golden Touch Farm
÷ Jang Seeders
○ Freedom Food Farm

8. Local Food Guide
● Local growers
● Farmers’ Markets
● Specialty Producers and
Buyers
● Current issue available
online
● Print issue will come out
in the spring

9. Winter Networking Meeting
● Offers opportunities to connect with your fellow
growers, new potential buyers, chefs, and eaters
● Allows attendees a chance to become familiar with
SEMAP’s educational offerings and membership
benefits
● Guest speakers present on a range of agricultural
topics, helping to share best practices and
innovation with our local farmers

10. Outreach
● Online presence
(including social media &
SEMAP Spotlights
● Farmers Markets
● SEMAP Potlucks
● Legislative Tours

11. Freight Farm – UMass Dartmouth

12. Ag & Food Conference
● In partnership with the
Bristol County
Conservation District
● Day long conference
● Workshops for farmers,
gardeners, and the
general public
● Includes a locally sourced
lunch

13. Buy Local

14. Future Projects
● Developing a Southeastern New England FiberShed
● Resource guide
○ Create a small handheld book for farmers and growers with list
of service providers for seed, fertilizer, equipment repairs,
pesticides, etc
● Work with Farmers Markets to provide better access
to low-income communities

15. Partners

16. Local Agriculture
● 1787 Farms in Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk counties
Over 108,000 acres of farmland
Bristol County
717 Farms
Plymouth
825 Farms
Norfolk
245 Farms

17. Agricultural Market Value
● The region’s agricultural market value is
$157,222,000
○ 59% is Fruit, Tree Nuts, Berries
○ 19% comes from nurseries, greenhouses, floriculture, and sod
○ 12% from livestock, poultry, and
aquaculture
○ 9% from vegetables, including
potatoes and melons

18. Direct Sales
● Direct market sales (sales from farmers'
markets, farm stands, and CSAs)
increased by 64% to $8,705,000
between 2007 and 2012
● This only equates to about $5 per person
per year on direct purchases of local
foods
If each household in the region
spent just $10 a week on local
food, this would result in almost
$6.5 million per week spent on
local food in the region.

19. Municipal Interests in Agriculture
● Preserving an historic vista
● Agriculture to protect open space
● Improve health outcomes of the community
● Preserve an historic working farm

20. Municipal & Local Resources
• Local Agricultural
Commissions
• Local Land Trusts
• Community Preservation
Committees

21. State Resources
● Massachusetts Department of Agricultural
Resources
○ Agricultural Preservation Restriction program
○ Questions on Animal Welfare
○ Questions on Pesticides
● Department of Conservation & Recreation
○ Conservation Restrictions for Agriculture
● Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
○ LAND Grant program may now be used for agricultural
as well as open space land purchases

22. Nonprofit Resources
• Regional Buy Local Organizations
• Massachusetts Association of Agricultural
Commissions
• Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
• Northeast Organic Farmers Association

23. Thank You!