Examples include the Western Mass Food Processing Center, a support and training center for agricultural producers and growers making value-added products or preserving harvests run by the Franklin Co. Community Development Corporation.  Such facilities can convert seasonal local products to value-added products and preserved products that can be sold year-round.  They can also be used for initial food prep to facilitate farm-to-school purchases, such as preparation of carrot coins or apple slices.  They can also be used by community members for personal canning and food preservation.  More organized distribution systems for local produce can also facilitate farm to school/institution programs by consolidating the products of many small farms and reducing the number of independent contracts and delivery routes.  Many models exist in Massachusetts, including growers’ cooperatives (Pioneer Valley Growers Association); farmer/distributors (Czajkowski Farm in Hadley), and commercial consolidators (Red Tomato in Canton.)

19.a    The Legislature should increase funding for Agricultural Innovation Center Grants to $2million 

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