Press
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Check out our recent and past efforts to support and grow our local food community and don’t forget to Connect With BAV by signing up for our newsletter for the latest updates.
For press inquires, please contact us at info@berkshireagventures.org.
Boost SNAP Benefits for Fresh Food | April 11, 2024 BAV is hosting a fundraising drive, the “Market Match Fund Campaign,” throughout the month of April as it enters the third year of its Market Match Program. Read the Berkshire Eagle
Lanesborough's Heart & Soil Collective Expands Soup and Produce Deliveries | January 25, 2024 Support from a USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant awarded by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures helped expand Heart & Soil Collective’s community produce program, doubling its reach. Read the Berkshire Eagle article
2024
2023
Farming and Agricultural Issues Discussed at ThinkFOOD Conference | November 14, 2023 The current state of farming and agricultural issues was discussed at the 10th annual ThinkFOOD conference. The theme for this year’s conference was “Making Farming Work”. Read the Berkshire Edge article
BAV Celebrates Milestones in Local Meat Processing Support | October 29, 2023 The opening of the BAV/AgriForaging Food Safety Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Hotline, the creation of the Livestock Farmers’ Resource Guide, the launch of the Meat Up listserv and bi-monthly newsletter, and a successful visit by the USDA to Plymouth Meats and BAV. Read the Morning Ag Clips article
BAV Draws Crowd and Catalyzes Change at Inaugural Climate Smart Agriculture Event | October 10, 2023 A panel of local farmers, climate experts, BAV’s knowledgeable staff, and concerned community members, gathered and engaged in a crucial dialogue about climate change and its profound impact on local agriculture. Read the Register Star article
Berkshire AgVentures Receives $50K in USDA Rural Business Development Grants | August 28, 2023 The grants empower the organization to extend its successful track record of offering to local farms and food businesses one-on-one tailored business planning and consulting services with high-level experts. Read the Berkshire Eagle article
SNAP Benefits will Pack Twice the Punch at Farmers Markets Thanks to BAV Program | June 23, 2023 BAV will provide $141,500 in grants to local farmers markets to match SNAP benefits for customers, expanding access to fresh nutrient-dense foods across the region. Read the Berkshire Eagle article
Berkshire Ag Ventures Taps Rebecca Busansky for Permanent Executive Director Role | May 25, 2023 Listen to the WAMC featured story
With Grant in Hand BAV Attempts to Ease Bottleneck in Slaughterhouses | May 10, 2023 BAV will establish a revolving loan fund intended to help meat processors in the Berkshire-Taconic foodshed absorb more deliveries from farms. Read the Berkshire Eagle article
BAV Awarded USDA Meat & Poultry Intermediary Lending Program Grant | April 27, 2022 BAV will use grant to establish a $840,000 fund that will enable BAV to issue loans to meat processors within the Berkshire-Taconic foodshed, over the next three years. Read the iBerkshire article
BAV Fundraiser Aims to Expand Access to Farmers Markets for SNAP Recipients | March 22, 2022 Listen to the WAMC featured story
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Awards Grant to Gould Farm | January 2, 2023 Resilience Fund grant awarded to complete construction of a new hoop house that will enable the farm to extend their growing season. Read the iBerkshire article
Full Well Farm Celebrates 'Climate Battery' Greenhouse | November 2, 2022 New greenhouse, that uses thermal mass of the soil for heating and cooling, was funded via grants and loans by the state, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Read the iBerkshires article
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures awards $2,000 grant to Williamstown Farmers Market | September 5, 2022 BAV awarded grant to the Williamstown Farmers Market, one of 10 “Market Match” grants totaling more than $100,000 to farmers markets in the region. Read Berkshire Edge article
Berkshire's Precious Farmland Deserves a Big Preservation Effort | July 5, 2022 BAV’s Executive Director opinion piece on critical importance of securing affordable farmland for farmers. Read Berkshire Eagle article
Market Match Fund Awards $100,000 to Berkshire-area Farmers Markets | June 1, 2022 BAV awarded grants to nine Berkshire-area farmers markets to support Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) matching programs. Read the Berkshire Eagle article
Silvopasture in Action: A chestnut orchard takes root in Great Barrington | April 26, 2022 Community member partners with North Plain Farm to plant 100 chestnut seedlings, which will one day provided shade for livestock and food for people. Read the Berkshire Edge article
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures launches Market Match Fund | April 2, 2022 BAV launched the Market Match Fund, an economic development & food access initiative to support local farmers markets with consistent funding to match customer SNAP benefits. Read the Berkshire Edge article
For Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, the Future of Food is Local | April, 2022 Organization ramping up support for farmers, related businesses in region’s food system. Read the Berkshire Trade & Commerce article
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Expands Staff | March 25, 2022 BAV recently added two new staff members to expand its capacity in two critical aspects of regional agriculture: meat processing and Climate-Smart Agriculture. Read the Berkshire Edge article
Community Rallies to Replace Windy Ridge Farm's Greenhouse | March 22, 2022 The community has stepped up to help Windy Ridge Farm after an early March windstorm destroyed its greenhouse. Read the iBerkshires article
This Market Stepped Up to Feed a Town With No Grocery Store | February 13, 2022
Our food system is transforming, right before our eyes, right here in our region, thanks to the efforts of the New Lebanon Farmers Market (with an early assist from BAV). Read the Modern Farmer article
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Rakes in Almost $1M in Federal Grants | February 2, 2022 Berkshire County agricultural nonprofit has received almost $1 million in federal grants from the United States Department of Agriculture. Listen to the WAMC highlight
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures receives nearly $1M from USDA | January 31, 2022 BAV named only 2021 recipient nationwide of funding from both the USDA’s Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). Read the News10 article
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Adds Two New Staff Members | January 31, 2022 BAV announces the recent hire of two new Directors. Read the Berkshire Edge article
2022
2021
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 | November 15, 2021 A conversation about food and agriculture with Glenn Bergman, Interim Executive Director for Berkshire Agricultural Ventures. Read the Berkshire Edge article
Bringing Farm-Raised Meat to Market a Struggle for Berkshire Farmers | November 12, 2021 Berkshire Agricultural Ventures aims to alleviate regional meat processing woes with new fund and action plan. Read the Berkshire Eagle article
There are Ways to Fight Climate Change Locally | September 22, 2021 Dan Carr, BAV’s Outreach & Technical Assistance Coordinator, on how supporting local farms can be a solution to climate change. Read the Lakeville Journal opinion
BAV Awards Climate Smart Agriculture Grants | August 30, 2021 Berkshire Agricultural Ventures recently announced two new $5,000 grants to farmers in northwestern Connecticut. Read the Berkshire Edge article
Harry Conklin Fund for Farmsteads | August 6, 2021
Berkshire Community Land Trust (BCLT) announced the Harry Conklin Fund for Farmsteads, an initiative of the BCLT in partnership with Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) and Berkshire Grown. Read the Berkshire Edge article
BAV Invests $100,000 in Local Hudson-based Fermentation Facility | August 4, 2021
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures has announced a $100,000 investment in a mission-based fermentation facility, Farm Ferments, of Hudson NY. Read the WSBS Great Barrington article
BAV is Growing | May 17, 2021
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures announces new interim director, staff and board members. Read the Hudson Valley News article
Over $1 Million in Support to Local Farms & Food Production | May 8, 2021
A Great Barrington nonprofit organization has awarded more than $1-million in funding to farmers and food producers in the Berkshires, Columbia, and Dutchess Counties in New York, and Litchfield County, Connecticut. Read the WWLP News 22 article
Agroforestry Grant | February 21, 2021
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) announces its first agroforestry grant. A priority area for BAV, agroforestry is a way to grow food while yielding environmental conservation benefits such as water and air quality, habitat, and soil health. Read the Berkshire Edge Article
2020
BAV Wins Grant | July 2, 2020
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures is awarded a grant from Pittsfield Cooperative Bank to support our Resilience Fund for Farmers. Read Berkshire Edge Article
BAV Grants Awarded to Two Local Farms | June 7, 2021
Two grants awarded to two local farms; a $3,020 matching grant to Shaker Creek Farm and a $5,000 matching grant to Smoke & Honey Co. Read Berkshire Edge Article
BAV Supports Greenagers | April 21, 2020
With funding support from BAV, Greenagers now offers a 3-person farm crew for hire to local farms. This program aides local farms, introduces young workers to diverse agricultural enterprises, and creates community pathways for youth employment, farm viability, and food sovereignty. Read Berkshire Edge Article