In the News

Budget cut to fresh produce program means emptier bellies | November 18, 2024 Local farmers and households will be impacted by cuts to HIP (Healthy Incentives Program). An emergency campaign through BAV’s Market Match Fund is poised to help. Read the Berkshire Eagle story

Berkshire farmers seek resilience in a changing climate | November 14, 2024 “Farmers are facing a wide range of challenges they can rarely predict — drought and flooding, heat and cold and extremes of weather …” Read the story in BTW Berkshires  

BAV announces new staff hires | November 4, 2024 BAV is pleased to announce the hiring of two staff members in finance and communications-development. Read the announcement in the Berkshire Edge

BAV leads lecture on farming in a changing climate | September 25, 2024
The Millerton News reported on “Farming in a Changing Climate,” offering highlights of the evening's presentation and panel discussion. Read the article

BAV to examine “Farming in a Changing Climate” | September 18, 2024
A preview of BAV’s community event exploring the impact of climate change on farming in our region. Listen to the WAMC feature story

Adjust for changing planet | September 17, 2024
NEMP’s Fab 413 show interviews Ben Crockett of BAV and Sarah Montiero and Iris Arboreal of Greenagers as they prepare to present/host “Farming in a Changing Climate.” Listen to the episode

BAV nurtures farms into next generation | July 10, 2024
With the right support, local farmers can turn a challenging season into a successful harvest. Read the Lakeville Journal article

Berkshire farmers markets aren’t just catering to the rich these days | May 23, 2024 BAV’s Market Match Fund was featured in a story exploring the economics of area farmers markets. Read the Berkshire Eagle article

New BAV project addresses region’s dairy farming challenges | June 3, 2024
BAV announces the launch of the Berkshire-Taconic Dairy Cohort, a two-year project to support and sustain dairy farming in our region. Read the Berkshire Edge article

An ‘old tool’ can help farmers adapt to climate change | May 8, 2024 In this opinion piece, BAV Program Manager Ben Crockett suggests that one of our best tools for mitigating climate change may be one of our oldest. Read the Berkshire Edge op-ed

BAV raising funds for ‘Market Match’ campaign | April 25, 2024
For the past three years, BAV has instituted its Market Match Fund to help support both residents on SNAP and farmers at local farmers’ markets. Read the Berkshire Edge article

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

Heart & Soil Collective expands soup and produce deliveries | January 25, 2024
Support from a USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant awarded by BAV helped expand Heart & Soil Collective’s community produce program, doubling its reach. Read the Berkshire Eagle 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