Joe Czajkowski of Czajkowski Farms in Hadley MA has pioneered ways to sell local farm products directly to area institutions, including public school cafeterias, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Joe sells products grown on his own and other local farms and his business provides a model for successfully selling and distributing farm products to institutions. He adds value to his produce by selling peeled and chopped butternut squash and carrot and zucchini sticks, as well as partnering with the Franklin County CDC to make jam. In addition to working with larger institutions, Joe sells pick-your-own strawberries and other produce direct to customers at his farm.

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Over the past two years the food service program at Cooley Dickinson Hospital has worked to provide healthy, freshly prepared food in the hospital cafeteria as well as to inpatients using local farm products. In doing so, Cooley Dickinson underscores its steadfast commitment to the health and well-being of the entire community. Cost-benefit analyses conducted by Cooley Dickinson Hospital Food Services Manager Daniel English prove that buying locally grown food directly from farmers can be cost-effective for large institutions.

Franklin County Community Development Corporation (CDC) in Greenfield offers ongoing workshops and training in e-business and business planning to farmers.  The CDC’s Lending Program has made loans to farmers, and food businesses, including many local restaurants that use local products.  The CDC’s commercial kitchen is open to area farmers who use it to create value-added farm products such as jams, pickles and salsa. These services have helped farmers move into new markets, thereby increasing farm viability.