State Agricultural Commissioner Randle tours Berkshire County August 14, 2025

“Farmers in Berkshire County have prioritized land protection, recognizing that many individuals are looking for viewsheds,” said State Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle. “We want to make sure that land stays in active agricultural protection."
Written byShaw Israel Izikson

Campers from Multicultural BRIDGE’s summer program on Friday, Aug. 8, at the organization’s Solidarity Farm and Garden, located on the Great Barrington Fairgrounds property, right before state Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle toured the farm. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.Berkshire County -- State Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle, along with members of the Department of Agricultural Resources, visited three Berkshire County farms—Red Shirt Farm and Second Drop Farm in Lanesborough and Multicultural BRIDGE’s Solidarity Farm at the Great Barrington Fairgrounds—and the Sheffield Farmers’ Market on Friday, August 8. As part of her tour, Randle met with representatives from local agricultural and farm organizations.

From left: Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Executive Director Rebecca Busansky, State Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle, and Berkshire Grown Executive Director Margaret Moulton. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.“So far this year, farmers in the state have had a good season,” Randle told The Berkshire Edge. “We got a late start with the rain at the start of the season, and we certainly could have used a little more rain this summer. But from the farmers that we’ve been talking to, they have told us that it has been a good growing season. A lot of the fruit crops have done well, including the strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry crops.”
Randle said that one of the biggest challenges farmers faced this year is funding cuts to federal programs that have assisted farmers in the past. “We are mindful of the impacts of less grant opportunities at the federal level for farmers to be able to apply to,” Randle said. “We know that, at the state level, we can’t fill in all of these funding gaps. But prioritizing state grant programs in this year’s budget and maintaining level funding for these programs has been really important. Our grant programs are continuing this year at the same funding labor.”
When asked about the situation concerning migrant labor at farms, including raids and arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Randle said, “We are making sure that these workers feel safe and protected.” “This is something that [Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll’s] administration has prioritized,” she said. “[Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell] is very mindful of this situation, and when we look at not only farms but also small businesses across the state, that is a priority.”
When asked about the continuing impact climate change is having on farms throughout the state, Randle explained that the state will soon compensate farmers for crop losses in 2023 and 2024 through a grant program. “In 2023, we had freeze, frost, and flood events all across the state,” she said. “Last year was a particularly dry year. Being able to compensate farms for those losses and also help with infrastructure that may have been lost is a priority for us.”
Randle said that farmland in Berkshire County is unique because “this county has the most land protected for agriculture in the state through preservation programs.” “Farmers in Berkshire County have prioritized land protection, recognizing that many individuals are looking for viewsheds,” she said. “We want to make sure that land stays in active agricultural protection. Farmers in Berkshire County have prioritized this, and they have worked together with other farmers to make sure that land is available for production.”
“I think that farmers here are so lucky to be in this state,” said Berkshire Grown Executive Director Margaret Moulton. “The state’s Department of Agricultural Resources works on so many fronts on behalf of the farmers. There has been a big loss in funding from the federal government for local food access, so a lot of farmers have had to pivot. But I think most of them have found other market channels, but it was very stressful and uncertain for a little bit.”

During Commissioner Randle’s tour of Berkshire County, she and representatives from local agricultural organizations met for lunch at Multicultural BRIDGE’s Solidarity Meeting House in Great Barrington. Attendees were served food grown from the organization’s Solidarity Farm and listened to a presentation on the farm by organization founder and CEO Gwendolyn VanSant (top, left). Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.Multicultural BRIDGE founder and CEO Gwendolyn VanSant hosted a lunch for Commissioner Randle and agricultural organization representatives at the Solidarity Meeting House in Great Barrington. At the lunch, VanSant gave a presentation about Solidarity Farm, located on 1.75 acres on the Great Barrington Fairgrounds property. “It is great to see Commissioner Randle in Berkshire County to see the work that farmers have done,” VanSant said. “On our farm, we have plots for African Americans in our community to grow food that they want to grow for their family or for mutual aid in the community.”

Campers from Multicultural BRIDGE’s summer program touring the organization’s Solidarity Farm and Garden. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.

Campers from Multicultural BRIDGE’s summer camp touring the organization’s Solidarity Farm. Photos by Shaw Israel Izikson.VanSant emphasized the importance of showcasing to the commissioner inclusiveness when it comes to the agricultural community. “Today is an important day to showcase the work of our farmers in the community,” she said.