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From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.
General Purpose
The Town Council established the Franklin Agricultural Commission per Special Legislation to promote, develop, and foster agricultural resources in the Town of Franklin. The Commission consists of five Members with three-year terms. Members shall be residents of Franklin and at least two members shall be active farmers, employed in an agriculture-related field, or have experience and knowledge in agricultural practices of business. The Commission is also able to have two Associate Members with 1-year terms.
Staffing
●Five (5) Volunteer Members
○Includes: One (1) Chair
○Includes: One (1) Vice Chair
FY27 Requested Budget Highlights
●This is a level-funded budget.
●The Commission hopes to continue to provide education and outreach of Franklin arms and supporting the local economy, expand the Franklin Farmer’s Market with the market coordinators, research the potential of becoming a right-to-farm community and expand community garden beds.
Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times
As the descendant of Falmouth strawberry farmers, I know how important agriculture is for a healthy food system and the thousands of Massachusetts families who depend on it.
My great-grandparents were among the many Azorean Americans who farmed Falmouth's strawberry fields. At its peak, before World War II, Falmouth produced more strawberries than any town in the country. Today, that legacy endures in a single remaining farm: Tony Andrews Farm, now stewarded by the town.
This decline is visible across the Commonwealth. Since 1945, the number of farms in the state has declined from 35,000 to about 6,000. Much of that farmland has been developed into shopping centers, industrial parks, and housing—reflecting a changing economy and the cost of limited land.
What's Happening
Even as these changes reshape our landscape, the need for a sustainable food system remains constant. With emerging threats like climate change and supply chain disruptions, it's imperative that we act to support healthy, locally grown food.
Massachusetts is home to more than 7,000 farms and fishing operations, spanning 500,000 acres—10 per cent of the state's land—and generating over $10 billion in economic activity. The FARM Bill will help preserve and strengthen this industry which supports our economy, feeds our families, and contributes to a sustainable future.
One key provision requires the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to develop a plan to support agriculture, seafood, and processed food during emergencies to mitigate food supply chain disruptions. In crises like storms and pandemics, producers often lose access to markets and can't transport goods. This provision will ensure that farms and fisheries can continue operating, treating them as essential infrastructure rather than an afterthought.
The FARM Bill also codifies key programs that support local agriculture and public health. The Healthy Incentives Program(HIP) helps residents purchase fresh produce from local farms. The Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program strengthens supply chains and expands access to local foods. The FRESH program helps schools and early education centers increase local food purchasing. This legislation makes these programs permanent.
Additionally, the bill directs the state to make recommendations for increasing the use of local food in assistance programs, creating stable markets for farmers while strengthening supply chains and supporting fresh, local food.
The FARM Bill also supports our cranberry industry, Massachusetts' most valuable agricultural product. The Cranberry Revitalization Task Force, which includes colleagues like Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues and former Senator Vinny deMacedo, recommended we adopt language empowering cranberry bog farmers to transfer their Water Management Act permit rights. That language, filed inSenate Bill 602, An Act relative to cranberry water use transfer program, is included in this legislation.
The FARM Bill is about resilience—ensuring our farmers and fishermen can withstand disruptions, our land and water remain productive, and our food system is prepared for future challenges. By investing in farming families, we support a more secure and sustainable future for the Commonwealth.
While Falmouth may no longer be the strawberry capital of the United States, Massachusetts continues to invest in its agricultural future through legislation that protects and strengthens our farmland for generations to come.
Join the Franklin Conservation Commission on April 18 to celebrate Earth Day!
We will be tabling at the Franklin Agricultural Commission's Earth Day Celebration at Fairmount Fruit Farm where we will be giving away native shrubs and wildflowers from Native Plant Trust and building native solitary bee boxes.
Around midday our celebration will commence with a forestry demonstration by William Ashton at the Riverbend Conservation Area.
The First Universalist Society in Franklin’s Food Justice Team invites you to join us and Ali Coakley for a conversation about how she uses regenerative agriculture techniques at Night Owl Farm and their application for the home gardener.
Lunch will be provided.
Conversation starts at 12:00 PM.
Please also bring seeds you would like to donate to a Seed Swap and feel free to take some home. For additional information on how to donate to the Seed Swap, please contact Marian Szymanski at marianszymanski@verizon.net
The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. Our Minister is Reverend Beverly Waring. For more information about FUSF please visit our website at Fusf.org. You can also contact us at info@fusf.org or by calling 508-528-5348.
