Blog Archives

Farm voices heard

8/30/2025

Farmer Harrison Bardwell, right, speaks to U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, front left, other state officials, and members from the United States Department of Agriculture and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources during a visit to Bardwell Farm, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Hatfield. Staff Photo/Daniel Jacobi II

McGovern’s Annual Tour Highlights Need for Support
This week, Bardwell Farm had the honor of hosting Congressman Jim McGovern during his 15th annual farm tour through the region. He was joined by state officials from USDA and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and together we walked the fields, stepped inside the high tunnels, and talked about the challenges and opportunities that farms like ours face every single day.

A Look Inside the High Tunnels
We showed Congressman McGovern our two 200-foot high tunnels where bell peppers and tomatoes were growing strong - a full month ahead of the outdoor field season. These tunnels help us achieve our dream of becoming a “365 farm,” with fresh greens available even through the winter.

But as we explained during the tour, this year hasn’t been easy. Weather extremes, market swings, and political uncertainty have made 2025 one of our most challenging seasons since we started in 2016. To keep moving forward, we need three more high tunnels to help stabilize production and meet the growing demand for local produce year-round.

Concerns About Federal Program Cuts
The conversation turned serious when we talked about losing federal funding in programs like LFPA (Local Food Purchase Assistance) and Farm to School. These initiatives are critical for connecting local farms to schools, hospitals, and food pantries - and when the funding goes away, so does a reliable market for what we grow.

We also discussed cuts to SNAP and the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which make it more difficult for families to afford fresh food. These programs don’t just help farms - they strengthen entire communities by making sure everyone can put healthy meals on the table.

Farmer Harrison Bardwell, right, speaks to U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, center, other state officials and members from the United States Department of Agriculture and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources during a visit at Bardwell Farm, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Hatfield. Staff Photo/Daniel Jacobi II

McGovern’s Message of Support
Congressman McGovern pledged to carry our concerns back to Washington and to keep fighting for policies that help - not hurt - small farms. He reminded us that institutions like schools and hospitals should prioritize buying local, and that federal policy should be “the wind at our back.”

Before leaving, he stopped by the stand and bought some produce - a small gesture that shows his commitment to walking the talk when it comes to supporting local farms.

Why This Matters
Farming is never easy, but this year has pushed many of us to our limits. Knowing we have allies like Congressman McGovern, Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, and Senator Jo Comerford gives us hope that our voices are being heard and that change is possible.

At Bardwell Farm, we’ll keep doing what we do best - growing food, caring for the land, and feeding our neighbors. However, we’ll also continue to speak up, because the future of farming depends on it.

Congressman McGovern's tour ended in the summer tent where everyone went home with some Labor Day Goodies. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Hatfield. Photo Credit Bardwell Farm