By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Boston, MA) On Monday the Baker-Polito Administration announced $95,000 will be awarded in equipment grants for 65 farmers and farmers’ markets across the state. The equipment funding will support and expand local food access for low income residents by facilitating the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.
“This grant program reflects the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to connect Massachusetts households with healthy and culturally accessible food in support of a strong local food system,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “We continue to promote food security across the Commonwealth, building on the success of the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program and the addition of over 100 new Healthy Incentives Program vendors.”
Ciesluk’s Farmstand in Deerfield, Kingsbury Farms in South Deerfield, Mycoterra Farms also in South Deerfield are a few of the farms that will utilize the grant to get new equipment that will allow SNAP recipients to shop there.
The grant program was offered through the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and with financial support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“DTA continues to work with our agricultural partners to expand equitable SNAP access points, enabling the over 600,000 households who receive SNAP to buy local food in the communities where they live. This grant program also brings critical economic support into our state’s food system, supporting Massachusetts farmers and their employees,” said Department of Transitional Assistance Acting Commissioner Mary Sheehan.