Concord Farm Receives $13K to Improve Food Safety

CONCORD, MA – Concord's Kenney Farm was one of 24 farms in Massachusetts to receive a collective $200,000 in state funding for improved food safety operations.

The farm was awarded $13,275 for harvest bin and refrigeration projects through the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP). The AFSIP is a competitive grant program that allows agricultural operations to upgrade their food safety measures.

"Upgrading existing farm infrastructure is important for the Commonwealth’s agricultural businesses to maintain high quality, locally produced products in a safe, sustainable way," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. "Our administration is committed to ensuring Massachusetts famers have the tools they need to adopt the best food safety practices for the benefits of all consumers."

Kenney Farm is family-owned and has operated in Concord since 1885. It specializes in providing fresh produce to Boston markets and in recent years has branched out to grow yellow squash, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins and sunflowers.

This round of funding focused on commercial oyster farms, as well as harvesting operations on produce farms.

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