By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
Photo by Reed Farm
(Sunderland MA) Lawmakers including State Senator Jo Comerford, State Representative Natalie Blais, Dan Carey, and Mindy Domb will be touring area farms this morning and afternoon to get better acquainted with issues impacting food farming and production and solutions to improve food insecurity, nutrition, and economic development. The group will be at Reed Farm in Sunderland, the only Franklin County farm included on the tour, around 11am. Also included on the tour are Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst, Barstow’s Dairy Farm and Store in Hadley, and Joe Czajkowski Farm in Hadley.
“I’m absolutely delighted that dozens of colleagues from across the Commonwealth will hear directly from Connecticut River Valley Farmers and so glad to partner with western Massachusetts colleagues and key advocates on policy and budget solutions that work for our people and region,” offered Senator Jo Comerford, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester District.
“Western Massachusetts is home to some of the richest soils, best farms, and most knowledgeable farmers,” said Representative Daniel Carey. “Connecting state leaders with our local agricultural leaders will help inform policy decisions that will benefit people across the Commonwealth. Discussing these issues at the State House is important, but visiting in person and seeing things first hand brings a new level of understanding to the conversation.”
Also expected to be joining the tour will be Senate President Karen Spilka, House Chair Carolyn Dykema Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Senate Chair Becca Rausch Joint Committee on Environment Natural Resources and Agriculture, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Deputy Commissioner Ashley Sears Randle, as well as House and Senate members from relevant legislative committees, the Legislature’s Food, System Caucus, and regional advocates.