New England Farmers Union

Tell Us What You Think
Hello!
As a founding member or friend of New England Farmers Union (NEFU), you have shown your commitment to progressive advocacy on farm and food policy. Your opinions are critically important to us as we develop our programming and policies. Please take a moment and respond to our survey by clicking on this link. With your help, we can devote our energy to the issues you care about most! Thanks, NEFU Staff.

Supreme Court Ruling on Monsanto

On June 21, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its first-ever decision on genetically engineered crops (Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms). New England Farmers Union signed an Amicus Brief on this case against Monsanto. Though this ruling is a victory for all who care about sustainable agriculture, we still have work to do. For more information on this ruling and how you can take action, read this article by The Center for Food Safety.

Planting Seeds for the Future

A Note from NEFU President, Annie Cheatham
This week I planted white beans in my garden for drying next fall. They are good for winter soups, bean dips for potlucks, and for eating plain with corn or stir-fried green beans. The seeds I planted came from plants I grew last year. The tradition of seed saving is the foundation of agriculture, and I always feel an important link to the past when I save and plant my own seed.

In Denver last week, I attended the National Farmers Union (NFU) board meeting where we focused on long range planning. NFU started 108 years ago in Texas when a group of farmers realized that if they didn't work together, they would all go broke. Born from the Populist Movement in American politics, the NFU advocated for farmers' right to form cooperatives and to pool resources for the good of the whole. How to bring that progressive voice forward to today's agriculture?

Several trends are shifting the ground underneath Farmers Union and causing the organization to look east for expansion. In New England, we mirror several trends: more women farmers, more young farmers, small-scale agriculture, sales directly from farmers and fishermen to consumers (for food, fish, fiber, lumber), and more. To grow and represent these farmers and fishermen, NFU needs to look to New England and the Northeast for leadership.

Politically, New England is a strong partner with like-minded consumers, family farmers, and small boat fishermen. Our members of Congress are progressives on the national scene and voted along with NFU for the public option for health care, for the climate change legislation, for support for dairy farmers, and for sustainable fisheries policies.

As NFU looks to grow its membership, it will listen to New Englanders' stories about our small acreages, our forestland, our rocky soils good only for pasturing dairy and livestock, our diverse markets, and our passionate friends of farmers. Based on conversations in Denver, I would say that NFU is ready to listen. Our New England seeds are plump and full of promise. The only thing needed is to plant them in the fertile ground of a region that has been under-represented for too long on the national stage. We welcome this new opportunity to bring our local voice to the national table.

Meet Barbara Zheutlin,
Executive Director of Berkshire Grown and NEFU Founding Member

Barbara Zheutlin, Berkshire Grown Executive Director and Founding Member of NEFU

Full Name: Barbara Zheutlin, Executive Director, Berkshire Grown

People know me as: Barbara

I'm from: Los Angeles, California originally. Since 1995 I have lived in Great Barrington, MA.

I love/live in New England because: I was drawn to the pastoral landscape, the rural environment, small town living, community, and the scale of things. I also moved here because of the weather. I wanted to experience the seasons. In LA, I had read poetry about crocuses and the wonders of spring, but I had never seen it. When I experienced my first spring I realized that the poets were describing reality, and I now enjoy the amazing transformations brought on by the seasons.

Some of my favorite local spots include: Because we work with over 200 members who are farmers, and owners of restaurants, stores, and inns, I have 200 favorites! To find them go to Map-o-licious on Berkshire Grown's website for a map of all our members. Once there, try entering any of the following as keywords:

Farm
Farmstand
Restaurant
Farmers' Market
Other

My favorite local food and farm event is: Berkshire Grown hosts many events throughout the year including a March Maple Dinner to celebrate the first harvest of the season, Holiday Farmers Markets, Farm Chic, Farmed + Foraged, Preserving the Bounty, and more. But my favorite is the "Beautiful Bountiful Berkshires Harvest Supper." Over 400 people attend this celebration of the harvest. Delicious dishes are created by over 20 Berkshire Grown member chefs with farm fresh local ingredients grown by member farms. This year the event will be September 20, Monday, at the Eastover Hotel and Resort in Lenox, MA.

My passions and interests include: Being with my dog, walking and talking with friends and family, cooking, reading and thinking, mentoring, supporting friends' projects and passions, inspiring people to become involved in promoting social justice and caring for the environment. I have co-authored books, been involved in documentary films, and worked on a long term research project for a psychiatric hospital in Stockbridge, MA.

I decided to join NEFU as a Founding Member because of Farmers Union advocacy work, for its thinking about the Big Picture. Being a member gives me a way to express my passion for social justice and sensitivity to the environment. I don't have time to do the advocacy work that I love. Being part of New England Farmers Union gives me an avenue to address local, regional, national and global issues.

Some of my biggest concerns about the New England agriculture are the shrinking size of farms and the high cost of land. I also think we need to give young farmers much more support--financial and technical assistance, and training in how to develop and sustain business plans. We need young people to become farmers, but they also need our help getting started.

I'm helping to implement change through strengthening the Farm to Table network, and strengthening the link between farmers, restaurant owners, and consumers. We are also educating people through our e-newsletters, events, and links to articles about food, where it comes from, and how we might improve how we grow and distribute food. Berkshire Grown also supports CSAs and helps feed our hungry neighbors through our "Share the Bounty" program: we raise funds to buy shares in farms and then give the fresh food to food pantries which make fresh healthy local food available to low income individuals. It's a win win.

My wish for New England agriculture is MORE!

If you would like to nominate an individual or an organization to be included in a future member profile, please email their name and contact information to NewEnglandFarmersUnion@gmail.com.
Feel free to nominate yourself, too!

Meet Steve Taylor, NEFU Board Member

Steve Taylor, farmer, journalist, former Agriculture Commissioner, and new NEFU Board Member

By Annie Cheatham

Recently I traveled to Steve Taylor's farm in Meridan, NH. On the way, I drove down a classic New England Main Street with old historic houses, the Town Hall, and a steepled church. The Taylor Brothers maple sugar house is painted red and sits near the road, and the barn with milkers is up the driveway a bit. Steve has lived in Meridan nearly all his life, and he and his wife Gretchen have raised a family there. The farm is a family affair with children and grandchildren involved. When I arrived, Steve was out spreading manure. We squeezed our visit between that and milking at the end of the day--or around the two best products from a cow.

Steve Taylor is known throughout New England and the United States as one of the most innovative and progressive agriculture commissioners in our nation. In 2007, he retired from 25 years of public service, during which he worked as the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food and served five governors. His role encompassed promoting and protecting agriculture, commerce, consumers, and the environment. He has overseen the state's farms, farmlands, and all that's produced from them.

He is also well known throughout the region as a lifelong farmer and journalist. After graduating from UNH in 1962 and serving in the Army, he began his career as a newspaper reporter and editor. In 1970, Taylor and his wife, Gretchen, established their maple and dairy farm in the Plainfield area where he had grown up. Run by the Taylors and their three sons, the Taylor Farm continued to operate at full capacity during Steve's years in office; today, the enterprise includes a 120-head dairy herd and the Taylor Brothers Sugarhouse and Creamery.

He played an instrumental role in establishing the New Hampshire Humanities Council and Leadership New Hampshire. He was founding executive director of the Humanities Council, an organization that promotes scholarship and public engagement in the humanities. He was a founding board member and board chair of Leadership New Hampshire from 1993-1998. Leadership New Hampshire educates and encourages citizens for leadership roles in the state. Taylor currently serves on several not-for-profit boards and is a lecturer on New Hampshire agricultural history for the Humanities Council. He has also served as a town selectman and, since 1980, as town and school district moderator.

We are honored that Steve recently added Board member for the New England Farmers Union to his long list of titles and community service activities.

NEFU Voted River Valley Market Green Stamps Recipient for June

Look for the NEFU exhibit and talk with NEFU staff at River Valley Market on Sunday, June 27, from 11-2

For the month of June, New England Farmers Union is in the spotlight at River Valley Market in Northampton, MA. NEFU was nominated for and received a strong majority of winning votes from River Valley Market members to become the Green Stamps Program Community Organization for the month.

River Valley Market, a food co-op serving the Pioneer Valley, focuses on cooperative principles and exemplifies its concern for community through support of local organizations. Their Green Stamps program, which encourages members and customers to carry reusable bags to the co-op when they shop, further demonstrates their commitment. Each month River Valley Market takes nominations for non-profit organizations to receive donations from the program. Members receive a green stamp on a card for every shopping bag they bring themselves OR for riding their bikes to the co-op. Once filled with ten stamps, a Green Stamp card (valued at $1) can be donated to the organization of the month, or redeemed for cash or merchandise. Donations for the organization of the month are collected in cans near each cash register. If you shop at River Valley Market, please consider supporting NEFU during June with your Green Stamps donation!

As Green Stamp winners, New England Farmers Union staff were invited to host a weekend information table inside the co-op with display board and materials, educating co-op members and customers about NEFU's mission and its work for farmers and food producers. Look for our table on Sunday, June 27 from 11-2. Throughout the month, customers can find brochures about NEFU at the co-op's customer service desk. The interaction between NEFU staff and food co-op members continues to be invaluable, and we offer gracious thanks to River Valley Market and its members for this tremendous opportunity to spread the word about our work.

New England Goes to D.C.: Taking a Seat at the Table

Do you want to feel heard in Washington, D.C.? What better way than to walk the halls of Congress, talk with legislators and their staffs, and meet with administration employees who run programs that impact New England every day. Until they hear the power of our collective voice, New England won't have a say in agriculture policy making.

From September 12-15, the National Farmers Union is inviting farmers, fishermen, and consumers from all 25 Farmers Union chapters to meet with lawmakers. Click here to view the preliminary agenda. Here is your chance to tell lawmakers, firsthand, how national policies affect farms, farmers markets, greenhouse operations, livestock production, dairy farmers, orchardists, and forest management. Join us for these advocacy sessions. Go beyond buying local, beyond the farmers market, beyond the CSA or the CSF, beyond state policy. Bring your New England voice to the national table.

We have some funds to defray travel and housing expenses, available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in taking our local voice to the national table, click here to download the registration form. Email the completed form to Cayte McDonough or fax it to 413-625-3061.

Developing the NEFU Policy Book

The Board and its policy committee with consultants Bob Wagner and Winton Pitcoff are working hard on developing a New England Farmers Union policy book. Their job includes:

sorting through policy positions approved by National Farmers Union on issues of importance to New England,
reviewing the policy books of other state and regional chapters of Farmers Union, and
reaching out to NEFU affiliates for their input on policy statements and positions.

By the end of summer, they aim to produce a draft comprehensive package of policies for the organization to review. Look for policy updates in upcoming e-newsletters, including:

progress on the policy book,
requests for input on the issues to be covered, and
previews of policy statements for feedback.

If you are interested in helping to develop, write, or review NEFU policy, please contact us at NewEnglandFarmersUnion@gmail.com.

How can you make a difference? There are many ways!
Help us grow New England Farmers Union:
If you are not a member, please join!
If you are a founding member, please invite your friends and co-workers to join.
Take our survey to let us know what is important to you.
Contact us about volunteer opportunities at NEFU.
Contact us to share your ideas or questions. We invite dialogue.

Add your voice to our collective, regional chorus so the agriculture policy makers in DC hear it
loudly and clearly. Together we will be heard.

2010 E-Newsletter Archive
Early June