Press Release: 8/12/2025

Healey-Driscoll Administration Kicks Off Urban Agriculture Week

 

Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and MDAR Commissioner Randle launch weeklong events showcasing urban farms that grow food, jobs, and community in cities across Massachusetts 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

8/11/2025

MEDIA CONTACT

Danielle Burney, Director of Communications

 Phone

Call Danielle Burney, Director of Communications at (857) 303-7286

 Online

Email Danielle Burney, Director of Communications at Danielle.Burney@mass.gov

SALEM — The Healey-Driscoll Administration is declaring August 10-16, 2025, as Urban Agriculture Week in Massachusetts, celebrating the innovation, impact and growth of farms in urban neighborhoods. To kick off the week, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle visited Mack Park Farm in Salem, where they joined the local community for the farm’s annual Harvest Festival. The weeklong event will feature events across the state, highlighting the role urban farms play in delivering fresh, affordable food to city neighborhoods. 

“Massachusetts residents deserve access to fresh, healthy and affordable food – regardless of where they live,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Urban growers are helping make that a reality by bringing fresh produce closer to where people live. Our administration is committed to investing in these farmers because they’re building stronger local food systems, creating opportunity and supporting healthier communities.” 

“Most people think of agriculture as something that only happens in rural fields, but farming also has a place in cities. Urban agriculture can turn vacant land into productive space, reduce food insecurity and bring fresh food closer to home,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “As a former mayor, one of my proudest moments was helping transform an unused baseball field into Mack Park, a farm that now grows hundreds of pounds of vegetables each season. Those crops are sold at Salem’s Farmers Market, giving residents a fresh, convenient source of produce while proving that agriculture can succeed right in the heart of the city.” 

Since its launch in 2014, MDAR’s Urban Agriculture Grant Program – the first of its kind in the nation – has awarded over $3 million to more than 110 urban agriculture projects. These funds support everything from commercial food production and processing to marketing efforts. The program’s goal is to increase local food production, support small-scale growers, and improve food access in historically underserved communities.  

“Urban agriculture brings fresh fruits and vegetables right to our doorsteps while cleaning our air and enhancing our green spaces,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “In Massachusetts, we are proud to support urban farms that not only feed our residents but also use sustainable practices that help our communities. By investing in these community-driven food systems, we are making it possible for people to enjoy local meals and create thriving neighborhoods.” 

“Our Urban Agriculture Program has quickly become one of the department’s most popular grant programs as urban communities see the need and value in reclaiming underutilized land for food production so that people in these communities have easier access to nutritious and freshly grown crops,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “Just like farming in rural areas, urban farming is challenging, so we will continue supporting these programs that uplift and strengthen these communities through good nutrition, education, and responsible stewardship of the land.” 

The success of urban agriculture in Massachusetts would not be possible without the support and collaboration of public/private partnerships, which have created innovative solutions for farming in urban centers. Additionally, urban agriculture has played a key role in providing job skills to young adults, educating community members on the importance of nutrition. It has also transformed previously neglected spaces into productive farmland within metropolitan settings. 

The administration will continue to support future urban agriculture programming and initiatives through the recently introduced Mass Ready Act. This landmark legislation makes strategic investments in farmland, infrastructure, and food security programs like the Urban Agriculture Grant Program that will ensure the viability and sustainability of farming in Massachusetts for generations to come. 

Nearly two dozen events will be held this week, in cities around the Commonwealth. A complete listing of events can be found on the Urban Agriculture Week Calendar website. Public officials will be available to provide remarks at the following events: 

Thursday, August 14th 

11:00AM – Urban Farming Institute in Mattapan at 487 Norfolk St. 

Friday, August 15th 

9:00AM -  UMASS Lowell, Office of Sustainability/Rist Institute in Lowell at 61 Wilder St. 01854