New Entry Food Hub provides market access to beginning farmers, market-based training, and produce aggregation and distribution services to a broad array of consumers.  We operate a Community Supported Agriculture program, food access programs for food insecure families and individuals, and donate produce to food banks and pantries, transitional living centers, and other social service agencies.  In 2023, we expanded our sales to local schools and institutions and grew our local produce deliveries to food security organizations.  Learn more about our 2023 Food Hub operations, impact, and partnerships!

In 2023, New Entry celebrated 25 years of supporting local, regional, and national programming that strengthens local food systems by supporting new farmers. We serve and collaborate with the people, communities, and organizations in Massachusetts, the Northeast, and beyond.

2023 was a year of growth and positive change. We brought on new farmer training staff to grow our capacity and we grew the food hub revenue by 161% thanks largely to new state and federal programs that provide food access organizations and schools with funds to prioritize local and regional food purchasing.  We supported over 467 farmers to engage in our courses, workshops, accessing federal programs, and to prepare for a challenging 2023 growing season. We faced an overabundance of rain (the 7th wettest year on record!) which impacted crops and yields, yet we accomplished much and made significant progress supporting new farmers, feeding our community, and bolstering our local, regional, and national food systems.  We engaged hundreds of volunteers and visitors to the farm in 2023 through tours, networking events, farm-to-table dinners and our famous Pumpkin Smash.  We hosted our national FIELD School in Kansas City, MO that built new connections and collaborations across the country.  These efforts and more helped inform many of the new relationships and future strategic directions we are approaching with our work as we move forward in the year ahead.  To dig into what we accomplished in 2023 and learn about our plans for 2024 - enjoy!

This document lists the newly developed and enhanced teaching resource created for projects working with New American farmers, and includes an overview of the core skills taught in that lesson. Core skills refer to concepts and skills that are central to farmer training programs. The teaching resources reference here were developed collaboratively by the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions) and 18 refugee farmer training programs across the country. 

A Guide for Scaling Up Food Hubs is intended to provide food hub leadership and staff with knowledge and tools to develop a successful strategy for expanding operations and increasing sales growth. The broad USDA definition of food hub encompasses a great diversity of organizations, including non-profit organizations and for-profit enterprises, ranging in scale from single-producer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) models to regional distribution networks of producers and buyers, with a variety of missions. Including the many types of organizations under one umbrella is useful because it allows diverse organizations to participate in a greater movement to develop resilient regional food systems. This guide documents lessons learned from the food hub literature and experience gathered in key informant interviews with management staff at selected food hubs in New England. These lessons will help food hub leaders weigh their options and develop their own marketing strategies for scaling up.

This Plain Language Guide will help farmers determine if they are either covered or exempt under the Produce Safety Rule.  This guide aims to help farmers assess, implement and practice food safety on their farm.  

Word document sample agreement for farmer group use of a shared tiller machine.  Outlines owners, responsibilities, and procedures for repairs and maintenance.  All regions. English level: Intermediate. Farmer Level: Beginner. Literacy Level: Intermediate. Keywords: Equipment, Machine, Maintenance, Repairs.

Beginning farmer survey written by Agricultural Land Based Training Association (ALBA) to confidentially learn how farmers are doing after receiving one year of services from ALBA. Survey includes questions on experience with ALBA, growing practices, and business finances.

This guide explains who is eligible to apply for this Natural Resoures Conervation Service (NRCS) cost-share program.  It also describes the types of conservation improvements on farms that qualify for funding.  Step-by-Step instructions for applying are outlined.  

PDF Assessment form used by organizations to determine a farmer's past history and experience with farming/gardening.  Can be easily adapted to other programs.  All Regions.  English Level: Advanced. Farming Level: n/a. Literacy Level: Advanced. Key Words: assessment, evaluation, administrative.

Background Information on New Americans’ is a compilation of resources about refugees and special immigrants actively participating in refugee agriculture programs at the  International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville, VA. The information originates from a variety of sources including the IRC itself and the Department of Health and Human Services. It provides abbreviated information about the cultural practices and context from which resettled people hail, with an emphasis on diet, food traditions and agricultural
background.