MGC convenes farmers, farm service organizations, retailers, food access experts, and interested stakeholders to identify current farm infrastructure needs in the region. What we know is this: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for food that is accessible and secure, and processing and distribution systems that are resilient.
Our ad hoc work meets to increase the volume of local food sales by improving farmers' links to markets; increase storage units and establish possible processing facilities; and expand local food access to include all income levels. 

Infrastructure priorities include:

  • increased farm marketing: on-farm and regional

  • better links to wholesale and retail markets

  • on-farm or shared food processing including USDA meat slaughter, vegetable processing and freezing

  • centralized or on-farm cold storage

  • shared farm equipment

  • social infrastructure and education of the importance of local food

Current focus:

MGC is in communication with Donna Bascom of Bascom Farm in Charlestown, and the Sustainable Valley Group in Vermont, leaders of the Great Falls Food Hub feasibility study. We are gauging the possible impact of this initiative on our farms. Two of the goals for this initiative is to produce a new food processing kitchen (there is a kitchen and ramp available now) and to expand frozen food storage facility in Bellows Falls, VT. Use of the facility would be open to Monadnock region farmers.

Our Impact:

MGC members impact on food and farm resiliency in the region is measurable and profound. Here is a partial list of programming implemented since 2017:

  • Since 2017, the Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund has awarded over $225,066 in grants to 28 local farms (Cheshire Co Conservation District)

  • Since 2022, the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience grant $1,052,000 to farms throughout the state (Cheshire Co Conservation District)

  • MGC leads the Monadnock Food Access Alliance and co-founded the Monadnock Mobile Food Pantry program with The Community Kitchen in 2022

  • Since 2022, our Monadnock Grown Mobile Fund (Locals’ Local) raised almost $100,000 to purchase locally produced food for distribution

  • Since 2014, MGC produced 4 quarterly forums for farmers offering technical assistance, farm marketing, estate planning, and business management assistance

  • Development of the Monadnock Grown marketing campaign: user friendly website - Local Food Finder, Local Food Guide, stickers, labels

  • Monadnock Grown monthly newsletter + 2k annual posts promoting farm events, workshops and grants for farmers, and conservation news

  • Hannah Grimes Center launched a Business Lab for growers and other entrepreneurs to shape a “grounded” business plan, and connect with network/marketing to turn vision into action

  • In 2025, Cornucopia Project and NCAT were awarded the $100,000 New England Food Vision Prize from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation to increase the use of locally grown food in school cafeterias, benefitting more than 3,500 students and families

  • Cheshire Co Conservation District developed the farm equipment rental program

  • Cheshire Co Conservation District and the Cheshire Medical Center developed the Monadnock Farm Share; a subsidized CSA share program for eligible individuals

  • MGC leads the SNAP Outreach Initiative: marketing targeted at low-income families & individuals, seniors, disabled, single parent families and social service networks to increase enrollment and use of SNAP and nutrition programs (Granite State Market Match, Double Up Food Bucks). Outreach includes: a :30 second video promoting SNAP participation in double up veggie & fruit purchases at farm stands/farmers markets, grocery sites, a brochure, and printed and digital media distributed throughout the region

  • MGC and our partners applied for 4 federal grants since 2019 and launched Monadnock Fresh, LLC (processing, commercial kitchen facility). Unfortunately, we were not able to secure funding

Infrastructure work group members: Sarah Harpster, NH Hunger Solutions/formerly The Community Kitchen, SW Region Planning Commission, Hannah Grimes Center/Radically Rural, Monadnock Food Co-op, City of Keene Environmental/Climate Change committee, The Community Kitchen, Cheshire Co Conservation District, food waste diversion team

Resources

Farm Needs Assessment Report
2025 Monadnock Food System Assessment Report
2017 Infrastructure Needs Report


Events & quarterly forums

Featured
Infrastructure Needs Assessment convening - April 2017
Infrastructure Needs Assessment convening - April 2017
Read more →
March 2016 - Farmer Workshops & Potluck Dinner
March 2016 - Farmer Workshops & Potluck Dinner

43 Monadnock Farmers and their families enjoyed a night out to reconnect with other farmers, attend workshops, and to talk about the weather at Alyson's Orchard on a snowy evening in March. 

Read more →
Nov 2014 - Farmer Mixer & Info Night at Alyson's Orchard
Nov 2014 - Farmer Mixer & Info Night at Alyson's Orchard

Thirty-three Monadnock farmers and their families joined us for a fun, informative evening at Alyson's Orchard. The gathering provided space to reconnect, swap challenges, ideas and resources and to speak one-to-one with farm service providers. 

Read more →
May 2014: Monadnock Farm Summit

Over 30 farmers, restaurant owners, and interested citizens participated in three workshops covering funding/financing, acquiring land to farm, improving farm productivity and equipment, successfully selling wholesale, and NRCS financial and technical programs to improve production.

Read more →