The Franklin County PumpkinFest in Turners Falls has grown over the last 10 years to become a signature event leading up to Halloween for those in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. Roughly 10,000 residents turn up on Avenue A to see the lit-up jack-o-lanterns and the costumes. This year, New England Farmers Union is proud … Read More
Month: October 2015
Food Waste Reduction Goals Good for Farmers
By Tom Driscoll, government relations representative, National Farmers Union Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first food waste reduction goal for the U.S., calling for a 50 percent reduction in food waste by 2030. Food waste is an important issue for family farmers, and National … Read More
Member Profile: Feather Down Farm Days
Feather Down Farm Days, a business member of New England Farmers Union, offers luxury cabin-style accommodations to farm visitors in Europe and the Midwestern U.S. and is now expanding operations into New England. Feather Down farms generate “a substantial income to compliment their core farming activities through low-impact, sustainable, on-farm lodging,” according to Ethan Ash … Read More
Member Profile: Butternut Farm
GUEST BLOG POST By Tim O’Connell In 1975 my wife Noreen and I purchased 20 acres of an abandoned apple and chicken farm in Milford, NH. The house was OK but the chicken barn was half collapsed and the old Baldwin apples hadn’t been pruned in years. As we continued our off-farm jobs, me as … Read More
A Tour of Organic Valley Member Farm Haynes Dairy
GUEST BLOG POST By Bonnie Hudspeth, Neighboring Food Co-op Association Dairy farmer John Haynes, one of eight siblings, is the only sibling who stayed on the farm with his father. John claims that he has spent “half of his lifetime” clearing their pasture because his father was so committed to pasture grazing. John hasn’t plowed his … Read More
Co-op Track at NOFA Features NEFU Speaker
New England Farmers Union was one of many presenters to be part of the Neighboring Food Co-operative Association’s (NFCA’s) track on “Co-operatives in the Food System” at the 41st annual NOFA Summer Conference, held at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in August. Roughly 50 people attended workshops in the track, which is in its second … Read More
NFU Appreciates Interagency Climate Change and Food Security Report, Suggests Contributors Also Examine Food System Consolidation and Climate Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2015 Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106 ajerome@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (October 9, 2015) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson said the organization of 200,000 family farmers, ranchers and fishermen appreciated the recent interagency report on climate change and food security, noting that it will be helpful in making future policy decisions … Read More
UNH Research: Granite Staters Will Pay More for Local Produce
GUEST BLOG POST By Lori Wright, NH Agricultural Experiment Station Granite Staters are willing to pay more for locally grown fruits and vegetables, according to preliminary findings of new research funded by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire. This is the first study of New Hampshire consumer preferences for locally … Read More
NFU Audio: Roger Johnson on the TPP, Currency Manipulation
NFU President Roger Johnson talks about NFU’s objection to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Now’s the Time to Submit a Change to the Policy Book
New England Farmers Union looks to you, our members, for important insight into the issues and concerns of farmers. This will guide our advocacy work in the region’s statehouses and in Washington, D.C., in the coming year. Our convention is approaching (November 6-8 in Concord, NH), and we invite you to present policy recommendations for consideration. It … Read More