About Us
The Massachusetts Coalition for Local Food and Farms (MCLFF)
The Massachusetts Coalition for Local Food and Farms (MCLFF) is an alliance of nine regionally-based nonprofit ‘Buy Local’ organizations that together serve all communities in the Commonwealth. We endeavor to grow our Massachusetts economy, promote local agriculture and fisheries, and increase the amount of local food eaten by Massachusetts residents. Learn more about the work of our member organizations below. To find out which ‘Buy Local’ is working in your community, enter your city or town on our homepage.
Eat Local MA App:
MCLFF recently launched the Eat Local MA mobile app to help eaters find local food and farms. Use the map directory or mobile searchable directory to find farms, markets, fisheries, specialty food producers, craft beverages, and more – all locally made!
The app is available for download on iOS or Google Play.
Our organizations:
Educate consumers about local agriculture
Agriculture is an active and important part of our state economy. Massachusetts has over 7,080 farms, stewarding nearly 465,000 acres and generating sales over $607 million. We directly reach consumers, educating them about where, why, and how to support Massachusetts farms and related businesses.
Train and support farmers to develop thriving businesses
We directly support over 1,785 farms and local agriculturally-related businesses through our membership, promotion, and training work.
Increase the availability of local food for all members of the Commonwealth
Access to fresh local food for all people in Massachusetts is fundamental to a healthy and just local food system. We’re working to make local food accessible to more people in the Commonwealth than ever before.
Berkshire Grown supports and promotes local agriculture as a vital part of the Berkshire community, economy, and landscape. We do this by advocating for farmers, supporting good agricultural practices, fostering education and outreach, increasing community access to local food, networking farmers and food buyers, promoting locally-grown and produced food, and promoting economic development by focusing on the viability of the agricultural economy.
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Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy throughout Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. Our Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® program, the longest-running agricultural ‘Buy Local’ campaign in the country, connects farmers and the community, improving farm business viability and enhancing the quality of life for residents across the region. Additional programs include Senior FarmShare, technical assistance for farms and food businesses, and research and support for local food and farm businesses of all kinds.
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Central Mass Grown promotes the purchase of local agricultural products and fosters education about its benefits to health, communities, the economy, and the environment. We help consumers find local producers and provide educational programming to farms across Worcester County all with the goal of increasing the profitability of our regional producers. Central Mass Grown’s efforts have helped generate consumer awareness and demand for locally grown food products while at the same time improved logistical access to these important food/product sources.
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Northeast Harvest helps consumers discover, enjoy, and support farmers and local agriculture in Essex and Middlesex counties. We work to help sustain the farmers and agricultural producers in both counties. We work in collaboration with many other organizations as well as individual growers and agricultural producers to highlight the number and variety of farms and food products that are available in northeastern Massachusetts.
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The Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN) is an organization based in Cambridge, MA with the mission to build a Massachusetts economy that is local, green, and fair. SBN envisions a resilient world economy composed of thousands of inter-connected local economies that benefit the lives of all people and all living things. SBN endeavors to build a successful model in Massachusetts and New England that inspires others to join with SBN in growing the sustainable economy movement. With over 1,000 locally owned and independent businesses, affiliates, and individuals participating in SBN’s projects and programs, SBN remains the leading organization of sustainable business in the state!
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The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) is dedicated to preserving and expanding access to local food and sustainable farming in southeastern Massachusetts through research and education. Our programs include the annual Agriculture and Food Conference; promotion of local fiber, seafood, and dairy; 1:1 technical assistance for beginning farmers; and a grant program to help farmers develop and trial technologies that are economically and environmentally resilient.
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Cape Cod Buy Fresh Buy Local connects people on the Cape with locally grown farm and sea products. We educate the public about where to find locally-grown products, and why it’s a great idea to do so. We also provide collective promotion of our Partners who have made a commitment to support land and sea farms and ocean harvesters in Barnstable County.
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Sustainable Nantucket cultivates a healthy Nantucket by building a more locally-based and self-reliant food system on-island, and a strong local economy. These efforts include expanding agricultural demand and production; increasing access to local food for the community, through our farmers’ market and in our restaurants and schools; and educating our community about sustainability. The mission of Sustainable Nantucket is to preserve the community character of Nantucket while sustaining its economic and environmental vitality.
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MVAS and its members support and promote the production, marketing, preservation, and enjoyment of agriculture on Martha’s Vineyard. In addition to hosting the West Tisbury Farmers Market on our grounds, we provide grants, educational opportunities, and support to our island farmers to aid in their production and marketing to the community.
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