“Often small-scale farmers grow fruits and vegetables and other high-value crops,” says Julia Freedgood, Managing Director of American Farmland Trust’s Growing Local initiative. “They have a lot of risk in addition to the inherent risks like weather or other catastrophic events in agriculture.”

American Farmland Trust along with its regional service providers will partner with the Wholesome Wave Foundation to provide the training and materials. “We look forward to this terrific opportunity to partner with Wholesome Wave and we are excited to be a part of it.

“This project is very timely, as the need to ‘grow’ opportunities for beginning farmers has never been greater. The demand for local food and other farm products far exceeds supply and it is important to provide new farmers with business training and skills so they can take advantage of these opportunities to benefit agriculture and consumers alike.”

The “Risk Reduction for Small Farmers in Southern New England: A Regional Food System Alliance-Building Project” expands AFT and Wholesome Wave’s work in southern New England to take advantage of opportunities and reduce risk for small and beginning farmers through the development of local food markets and direct marketing methods.

The federal grant monies are part of USDA’s “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative.

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