Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation recognizes contributions from local farmers

It was a night of thanks in North Hampton for Western Massachusetts farmers. 22 News reporter Kayleigh thomas joins us live in studio to tell us what contributions they're being recognized for. Sierra, an appreciation party was held to reinforce the message that local farmers presence and ongoing productivity are critically important to our region. The Smith College Campus Center in North Hampton became the stage for a very special celebration, a night of gratitude for the farmers who are the backbone of the region that worked to sustain the region's food system and economy. And it's just a really fun event. Also, you get to see the other farmers like we get so busy during the season, but this is kind of like the big, this is the big get together. We all the farmers get to see each other. This is the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation Annual Farmer Appreciation Party where farmers share the very food they grow alongside those who support them. Many of the farmers in attendance previously received a local farmer award from the Foundation, which provides critical funding for infrastructure improvements. We love to help the farmers and they respond beautifully. I mean, that's a great group of people. It's all in partnership with big why the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, the Irene E and George A Davis Foundation and many other sponsors. You've got farmer folks that have been farming for generations and generations and other folks that have just started off and uh it's good to kind of be able to continue to support them. In April 2025, 116 farmers received nearly $268,000 to support essential farm improvements. For many, this support has been transformative. This year it was a vacuum sealer, which was incredibly helpful. We grow a lot of raspberries and you can't always sell them immediately. So in order to help store the raspberries, we use the vacuum sealer along with using it for experimenting with other products that we're hoping to eventually sell in our farm stand. Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation also purchased farm products from participating farmers to assemble into special harvest swap bags for attendees to take with them on their way out. Farmers looking to apply for the Foundation's Local Farmers Award. Applications are open until the end of this month. Working for you. Kelly thomas 22 news.