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You are here: HOME > Central Massachusetts Buy Local Planning Initiative
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Central Massachusetts Buy Local Planning Initiative

Growing the Heart of the Commonwealth

Central Mass Grown logo

Now Enrolling!  Visit www.centralmassgrown.org for more information and updates.
 
The organization Central Mass Grown emerged after several months of collaborative community discussions about the need to create a “Buy Local” organization in Central Massachusetts.  
 
Regional Buy Local Groups connect farmers to their surrounding communities and vice versa. Eight  "Buy Local" groups currently exist to promote the purchase of local agricultural products across the state.  However, until now, there was not a Buy Local organization focused on Central Mass. Our organization is focused on the mission to promote the purchase of local agricultural products and to foster education about the benefits to health, community, economy, and environment.
 
Specifically:
 1. To promote the sale and purchase of agricultural products grown in Central Massachusetts to local markets, restaurants, retailers, aggregator, distributors, general consumers and others;  
2. To support the advancement of knowledge and understanding of farms and farming and their benefits and relationship to the environmental, economic, nutritional and social well-being of persons within central Massachusetts and surrounding areas; and 
3. To educate farmers, consumers, and the general public on issues about and related to farming. 
 
In 2012, Worcester County ranked 6th among counties nationwide in direct to market food sales. Locally grown food is the Country’s fastest growing food sector; sales of local food increased by ten percent in 2013, compared to a five percent increase in total food sales. Agriculture is a major component of the regional economy, and building this connection between consumer and producer is essential to continuing to meet the growing demand for locally produced and sustainably grown products. In 2015 Central Mass Grown, Inc. was given non-profit status, and shall be operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding section of any future Federal tax code.Please visit our website at www.centralmassgrown.org for news, events, and upcoming meetings. 
 
Currently CMPRC and MRPC provide staff support to the young organization.

 
Check out our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/centralmassgrown  and our regularly updated Twitter feed @CentralMaGrown to find out what is happening with local agricultural products in central Massachusetts

Related websites/ documents

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Mass Grown 

Central Massachusetts Farmers Markets

Massachusetts Buy Local Groups

Please send your related meeting dates to dmathieu@cmrpc.org for inclusion on this webpage.


Related

See also the Regional Agricultural Economic Development Project

Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
One Mercantile Street, Suite 520
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone 508.756.7717 Fax 508.792.6818
 
The CMRPC and the CMMPO fully comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities.  Any person who believes himself/herself or any specific class of persons have been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI or related statutes or regulations may, himself/herself or via a representative, file a complaint with CMRPC or the CMMPO. Click here for more information.
 
CMRPC Records Access Officer: Connor Robichaud, One Mercantile Street, Suite 520, Worcester, MA 01608; Email: rao@cmrpc.org 
The CMRPC complies with M.G.L. c. 66 and 950 CMR 32.00. Click here to access our Public Records Request Guidelines.
 
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