Town farmers lobby for new commission

Date: 4/14/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



AGAWAM -- A group of farmers are petitioning the City Council to preserve the integrity of their industry by establishing the Agawam Agricultural Commission.

The City Council will vote on TOR-2009-2, an ordinance officially creating the three-member advisory commission, at its next meeting on April 21.

"The town of Agawam and other suburban towns [have] gradually gone a little bit away from an agricultural focus over the past 20 to 30 years [to a commercial and industrial focus]," Mark Brown, a petitioner and manager of Provin Mountain Farm, said. "Most farmers would like to see at least some representation within the political and governmental system[s] just like the builders [have within the Planning Board] and [conservationists] have [within the Conservation Commission]."

Pete Westover, contractor for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, has been working with Agawam farmers to establish the town's Agricultural Commission. He explained such commissions "raise the profile of local farming" and serve as advisors to government officials on agricultural matters.

"Agawam is one of the towns [in Massachusetts] that has a good bit of farming [land] left," Westover said, adding that the Agricultural Commission would lobby for the continued preservation of the town's farming industry.

Linda Lazarus, petitioner and owner of Twin Oaks Farm in Feeding Hills, explained that during her 40 years of ownership, the farming industry in town has become increasingly difficult to maintain.

"More and more farmers are going out [of business] ... it's really hard [to stay afloat]," she said. "If you're young you can't afford to do this [as a profession]."

Lazarus added that she is in favor of the commission because of its ability to lobby on behalf of farmers and their needs.

The three members of the Agricultural Commission will be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Candidates must be town residents or farm owners in Agawam and be prepared to serve for one to three years.

Commissioners' duties include "promoting agricultural and forestry-based economic opportunities; mediators between parties involved in issues between operators of working lands and other residents" and preservationists of agricultural lands while advising community leaders on such matters.

Mayor Susan Dawson said potential candidates may mail their resumes along with a letter of interest to her at Town Hall, 36 Main St., provided the City Council approves the ordinance.