FY2024 MA FRESH Awardees

ABCD Head Start & Children's Services | $11,242 ($13,897 FY25)
Boston, MA

ABCD Head Start & Children's Services will build a new garden, invest in professional development for food service staff and purchase equipment to increase access to fresh produce for enrolled children and their families. The garden will provide opportunities for teachers to enhance their curriculum, access green space in an urban environment, and teach children about gardening and nutrition. Food service staff will increase their knowledge and ability to prepare unprocessed food from the garden and provide taste testing events for teachers, children, and families.

Boys & Girls Club of Metro South | $20,000 ($30,000 FY25)
Taunton, MA

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, serving more than 2,500 youth ages 5–18 each year, would utilize MA FRESH funds to support the expansion of innovative food system curricula. As they prepare to operationalize their third hydroponic Freight Farm adjacent to their downtown Taunton Clubhouse, MA FRESH funds will facilitate the adaptation and delivery of comprehensive nutrition education programs, support youth engagement, food security, and community development.

Codman Academy Charter Public School | $13,922 ($32,400 FY25)
Dorchester, MA

Codman Academy will utilize funds to create a new initiative "Urban Roots" to focus on evidence-based urban agriculture curriculum integration in every grade from K1–12th, while providing direct in-school guidance and support to teachers. Urban Roots will increase local and regional produce and seafood procurements, establish new and current indoor growing systems for all middle school students and implement an Urban Roots Certification in Controlled Environment Agriculture Readiness, that will prepare our high school youth with marketable urban agriculture based technical skills. This certification program will include a series of planned experiential opportunities in Codman's indoor growing systems, indoor growing systems at partner sites and Codman's year-round youth farmer's market.

Community Action Pioneer Valley Head Start & Early Learning Center | $8,550
Greenfield, MA

Community Action Pioneer Valley, Head Start & Early Learning Program will utilize MA FRESH grant funds to provide professional development training for its food service staff. This will in turn help by expanding educational programing to promote food literacy and nutritional education for our students around preparing, cooking and eating locally grown foods. Community Action Pioneer Valley's weekly 'Nibbles Snack Activity' will allow children to fully participate in a hands-on nutritious snack. As part of this project, Community Action Pioneer Valley will secure the tools and materials needed for children to help prepare these snacks, as well as integrate the MA Harvest of the Month program into snack activities.

Community Charter School of Cambridge | $3,985 ($3,625 FY25)
Cambridge, MA

Community Charter School of Cambridge will create a farm-to-school initiative with its middle and high school students that provides experiential learning opportunities, as well as the opportunity to celebrate cultural culinary traditions. Grant funds will be used to support travel to Land's Sake Farm to learn about how the farm operates and how it grows/harvests its produce during each season. Produce from the farm will then form the basis of a cooking class at a local community kitchen at the Foundry in Cambridge. Students participating in the cooking portion of the program will share family or cultural dishes and recipes and will learn how to prepare the food in a kitchen and enjoy a meal together afterwards.

Ellis Early Learning | $25,000
Boston, MA

Ellis will partner with Green City Growers to promote hands-on learning experiences achieved through food and nutrition education. Ellis believes that increased guided exposure to its garden will allow for more engaged interdisciplinary learning that will help students prioritize local and sustainable food options. Through this partnership, Ellis's students will be working with urban agriculture experts in order to better understand where the food they eat comes from.

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | $50,000
Hathorne, MA

The current farm operations at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School (ENSATSD) are, by volume of production, on par with many local small farms and food producers; however, the district's ability to safety handle, wash, and store this produce is lacking. As a result, much of the produce cannot be served to the student population. This proposal includes many measures to implement and support a robust food safety program, including expanded cooling space, wash-pack station construction, staff & student training, water and soil testing, all in hopes of leading to a successful GAP audit and certification by school-year end. Through this project the entire student population will not only be able to access the freshest possible food to support them in their academic and technical endeavors while at school but will be all the more versed and involved in their local food system, becoming food-literate citizens and eaters in their own communities.

Greenfield Public Schools | $3,017.00 ($10,497 FY25)
Greenfield, MA

Greenfield Public Schools will collaborate with local non-profit, Just Roots, to launch a new farm to school initiative at the elementary grade level. All GPS elementary students will participate in monthly taste tests of local foods following the harvest of the month program. Additionally, all third grade students will visit Just Roots Farm for a curriculum-aligned fall field trip and receive two additional food literacy lessons during the 2024-2025 school year.

Haverhill Public Schools | $21,790 ($28,150 FY25)
Haverhill, MA

The hydroponic garden project for the Bartlett School and Assessment Center, aims to increase healthy eating habits by cultivating a variety of nutrient-rich vegetables and herbs to integrate into school food programs. Through hands-on participation in the garden's setup and maintenance, students will learn about plant growth, nutrition, and sustainability, fostering an appreciation for fresh, organic produce. This project will offer a sensory-rich environment while encouraging healthy eating habits and empowering students to make informed food choices for a balanced diet.

Holyoke/Chicopee Head Start | $18,645.00 ($18,734 FY25)
Holyoke, MA

The project will build off of existing gardens at Educare Springfield and Churchill Head Start to fully integrate gardening and healthy foods into year-round use within the school curriculum. With the support of MA FRESH and partnership with Mass Audubon, the schools will receive professional development, resources and connections to bolster nutrition and gardening education for students and increase family and community engagement. Increased use of the gardens will allow for more food to be integrated into school meals and a larger diversity of culturally appropriate crops to be grown and shared.

Holyoke Public Schools | $23,479.00 ($8,700 FY25)
Holyoke, MA

The grant will be used to ensure that all six elementary schools in Holyoke Public Schools have school gardens on site where students can participate in gardening in order to increase food literacy, increase their sense of belonging in the school community, and develop a sense of curiosity and willingness to try new things. Holyoke will expand existing gardens in five schools and create an entirely new garden space in one of the schools, establishing school garden cultures with longevity in mind. Funds will also be used to launch a classroom taste test program so students can try the types of foods they are growing in the garden and give feedback on their preferences.

Lenox Public Schools | $11,010
Lenox, MA

Lenox would like to add two Fork Farms Hydroponic systems — one system located at each school — to the district allowing all students access to indoor hydroponic growing capacities. Produce will be used in the kitchen and students will be involved in the growing process.

Mashpee Public Schools | $33,400 ($3,100 FY25)
Mashpee, MA

Mashpee Middle High School (MMHS) in collaboration with the community partners Barnstable County Cooperative Extension Office of Nutrition Education and Food Safety, Master Gardeners of Cape Cod, and Health Ministry is building and sustaining an educational farm. The program integrates fresh, unprocessed produce harvested directly from the onsite farm into the menus of the school cafeteria which reflect the diverse cultural backgrounds of the students. The farm will be an edible educational outdoor classroom that creates new opportunities for hands-on learning through food and food systems. The food sovereignty provided by the farm will broaden students' culinary horizons while elevating both the quality of life and academic achievements of all. The MMHS Community Farm will be a hub for the classroom, cafeteria, and community.

Medway Public Schools | $7,000
Medway, MA

The Memorial School's MA FRESH project will conduct a school-wide produce tasting session and host a poster contest about the local food cycle for 4th grade students. Additionally, Memorial School will expand its partnership with the Medway Community Farm to include its 2nd and 3rd grade students in an annual school-based farming educational experience.

MetroWest YMCA | $28,583 ($20,344 FY25)
Framingham, MA

The MetroWest YMCA aims to enhance its commitment to promoting holistic well-being by expanding its garden initiatives. With funds from the FRESH grant, MetroWest YMCA will be able to grow more fresh fruits and vegetables, fostering nutritional awareness and food education within its early learning centers. Through hands-on experiences such as classroom taste tests, gardening lessons, and cooking classes, MetroWest YMCA will educate students and their families to make informed choices around locally produced food, promoting both individual health and environmental sustainability.

Mystic Valley YMCA | $8,675
Malden, MA

Funds received from the MA FRESH grant will be used to purchase hydroponic garden towers for children to explore concepts related to the life cycle of seeds and how to grow produce. Produce will be used directly in Mystic Vally YMCA's cooking classes. The garden towers will promote lifelong healthy habits and social and emotional learning, while based in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activities. These garden towers will be used throughout the Mystic Valley YMCA's preschool programming as well as the child care centers in Malden and Medford.

Norfolk County Agricultural High School | $4,317 ($8,176 FY25)
Walpole, MA

Norfolk Aggie's Abundance Garden will expand its produce availability to students and the greater community. Norfolk Aggie will install a vegetable wash and pack area, and cold storage for its cafeteria. Both of these additions will allow Norfolk Aggie to fully utilize its garden by assuring more fresh food gets into the cafeteria.

PACE Head Start | $13,900 ($11,100 FY25)
New Bedford, MA

PACE Head Start program will plant a community garden of fresh fruits and vegetables in beds, and also fruit bearing trees. The program will partner with Bristol Agricultural Highschool to acquire an intern to support the garden and work with children to plant and tend to the produce growing in the new space. Fresh produce grown through the project will be used to supplement our nutritious meal program and incorporated into culturally reflective recipes and family engagement opportunities.

Prospect Hill Academy Charter School | $23,345 ($24,465 FY25)
Cambridge, MA

PHA will focus on educating students about how farming impacts student health, by sharing where food comes from, the work it takes to grow and harvest fresh produce, and the myriad ways students can incorporate nutritional fresh produce into their daily lives. The MA FRESH grant will be used to pilot a program with 9th graders, their teachers and members of the school's nutrition team, providing them with a transformational experiential learning opportunity at the Farm School. This opportunity will connect participants to the land and introduce them to the work that goes into planting, growing, and harvesting fresh produce. Then, when they bring their knowledge back to PHA, to share with our entire PreK-12 community, everyone benefits.

Salem Public Schools | $17,050.00 ($32,475 FY25)
Salem, MA

Salem Public Schools will connect its existing Farm to School programming, which includes procurement of fresh local foods and Harvest of the Month tastings in the cafeterias, with the classrooms of its six K-5 elementary schools. Funding will support professional development for SPS K-5 teachers to integrate Farm to School curriculum including experiential learning in school gardens, culinary and nutrition lessons, and to provide field trips to local farms for fifth graders. Funding will also be used for data collection and evaluation activities during the grant period.

Waltham Boys and Girls Club | $25,000
Waltham, MA

Get Fresh will be a hands-on science program where a local nonprofit farm is the classroom. Over the course of several weeks, participating youth will get to experience first-hand how produce is grown, while building their knowledge of horticulture, food systems, and life cycles. Along the way, the program will promote healthy habits, environmental awareness, personal growth, and teamwork. Get Fresh will culminate in a community dinner where students will prepare a community meal featuring the produce they have grown for their families and guests.

Webster Public Schools | $11,900 ($5,000 FY25)
Webster, MA

Webster Public Schools will strengthen and expand Farm to School efforts by increasing whole school community involvement. They will provide a multi-purpose school garden that benefits all members of the school community to enhance a sense of belonging and empowerment. Students will actively participate and learn in ways that support their health and sustainable awareness, with a farm to school to table rounded approach.

Westford Public Schools | $16,190 ($2,800 FY25)
Westford, MA

The multi-disciplinary team at Nabnasset is excited and committed to creating an inviting and highly visible garden-based learning lab for our entire PK–2^nd grade community to experience the wonder of how food is grown and appreciate its impact on life systems. Students will explore gardening, observe living things and be given the chance to learn, surrounded by a beautiful and peaceful landscape.

Last Updated: January 20, 2026