Berkshire Farms, Organizations Awarded Food Security Grants

10:40AM / Wednesday, October 22, 2025Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Bounty and Maple Shade Farms were both awarded Food Security Infrastructure Grants (FSIG) to address food insecurity.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $22 million in grants to support 113 local food producers and food system organizations, in addressing food insecurity in Massachusetts. These funds will help strengthen Massachusetts' food production and distribution sectors, which will allow residents more access to fresh, locally grown and produced food.

In Berkshire County:

Berkshires Bounty, of Great Barrington was awarded $73,083
Maple Shade Farms, of Sheffield was awarded $585,682

The grants are made possible through the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program, a competitive grant program administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). The program is designed to support food security initiatives that provide more equitable access to locally grown, raised, harvested, and caught foods by strengthening the local food supply chain.

"Thanks to this transformative program, we're continuing our work to ensure that food producers and distributors in Massachusetts are equipped to feed our residents with fresh local products," said Governor Maura Healey. "While the Trump Administration is cutting food assistance for millions of people, Massachusetts is stepping up to make sure our communities have affordable, healthy food while also supporting our farmers and local businesses."

Launched in 2020 as a recommendation of the Massachusetts Food Security Task Force, the FSIG program provides grants for capital infrastructure projects that increase access to locally produced food for families and individuals throughout the state who may be facing food insecurity, live in gateway cities or food deserts, or otherwise face unequal access to food. According to the most recent food access report by the Greater Boston Food Bank, 1 in 3 residents faced food insecurity in 2024. The program aims to foster increased collaboration between farmers, fishers, and other local food producers with the goal of maintaining a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future supply chain issues.

Tags: grants,

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Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building.

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.

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