Technical Assistance and Farm-to-Institution Resources

SEMAP is dedicated to preserving and expanding access to local food and sustainable farming in southeastern Massachusetts through research and education.  SEMAP is a 501(c)(3), tax exempt, non-profit organization serving Barnstable, Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk Counties.  We operate 2 main programs: Technical Assistance and Farm to Institution.

Technical Assistance - Workshops covering various topics which have been identified as educational need areas within the growing community.  Examples include cover crops, growing garlic, selling to institutional buyers, marketing, and starting a new farm business (for entering farmers).  Our annual Ag & Food Conference has Farmer, Organic, Public, and Youth tracks and brings experts to our region for this amazing day.

Farm to Institution – This pilot program launched January 2012.  Farm to Institution increases and facilitates sales between local farms and intuitions, such as colleges, hospitals and K-12 schools.  Buyers on this scale pre-purchase larger quantities from local farmers who in turn increase their production.  Increases in production may occur by utilizing land they already have access to, but aren't growing on; by utilizing season extension techniques; or by growing on additional land (i.e. leasing from non-farming landowners).  This program will not only expand our local foodshed but add an additional revenue stream to participating farm businesses that currently sell direct-to-consumer only.

SEMAP also provides Marketing Assistance for our member farms/businesses, as well as holds Community Education events, with the aim of increasing access to local food systems and sustainable agriculture knowledge to the local community in our region.

Visit www.SEMAPonline.org for more information.