128 Local Farmers Receive More Than $270,000 in Grants from HGCF

AGAWAM — The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF), and its Local Farmer Award partners, announced the 2026 recipients, granting more than $270,000 to 128 farmers across Western Mass. With this year’s awards, the program’s total investment in local agriculture surpasses $2 million — marking a major milestone in its 12-year commitment to strengthening the regional food system.

“Reaching the $2 million mark reflects our foundation’s and our partners’ deep, ongoing commitment to supporting the hardworking farmers of Western Massachusetts,” said Harold Grinspoon, founder of the Local Farmer Awards and the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation.  

Philanthropist Steve Davis, a long-time supporter of the program, emphasized the real-world impact of the awards:”I am proud to support these awards, which help farmers strengthen their operations and bring fresh, local food directly to our communities.”

Since the program’s launch, the Local Farmer Awards have helped fund practical on-the-ground improvements such as infrastructure, equipment, and production upgrades to help farmers grow and sustain their operations. The awards help farmers improve efficiency, expand production, and strengthen the region’s local food system.

The 2026 winners represent a diverse mix of farms of varying sizes across the four counties of Western Mass. Funds of up to $2,500 will help support projects such as:

• Fencing, cattle chutes, headlocks, calf housing, and feeding systems;

• Greenhouses, hoophouses, energy curtains, and irrigation inside structures;

• Cold storage, wash stations, and processing equipment; and 

• No-till preparation, cover cropping, composting, and pest management.

Kitchen Garden Farm, a vegetable farm in Sunderland, plans to purchase harvesting crates with support from the Local Farmer Awards.  Co-owner Lilly Israel explained, “Having these reusable stackable crates makes harvesting and storage more efficient and environmentally friendly,” said co-owner Lilly Israel.

This program is made possible through community funding from the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y, the Mass. Society for Promoting Agriculture, and the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation. Additional support is provided by PeoplesBank; Ann & Steve Davis; the Elizabeth & Charles D’Amour Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Audrey & Chick Taylor; Andrew Associates; DeNucci, Crosby, & Associates – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Eastern States Exposition; Farm Credit East; Hood; Three County Fair; bankESB; Baystate Health,  Franklin First Federal Credit Union; & Country Bank.