Grant Supports Urban Farming Initiative In Holyoke, Massachusetts

April 29, 2018  |  Associated Press 

HOLYOKE, Mass. (AP) — State and local officials are teaming up with a community group to help create a new city farming program in western Massachusetts.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker's administration says the state will invest $200,000 in two Holyoke container farms that will be managed by Nuestras Raices, an organization that supports urban agriculture.

The farms will be located next to the recently-opened Culinary Arts Institute at Holyoke Community College. Officials say interns from the college and apprentices nearby neighborhoods will be taught hydroponic food production and grow leafy greens — such as lettuce and spinach — that will be sold to the college and local restaurants.

The farms are part of a new "transformative development" district in the city.

The state is also spending $1.6 million to help make the district safer for pedestrians.