Go Fresh Market receives $150,000 Health New England grant

Date: 10/7/2021

CHICOPEE/SPRINGFIELD – Health New England presented Go Fresh Market a $150,000 grant to expand their operations. Health New England Health Management Program Specialist Julia Wilkins spoke about the importance of supporting the pop-up farm market, which works to serve the senior and low income populous.

Go Fresh has operated for 12 years, but this year marks Wellspring Cooperative’s first year spearheading the operation.

Co-Director of Wellspring Fred Rose discussed how the grant will help them implement new aspects to their program.

“This program is going to help us expand the scope of this project,” said Rose. Along with expanding into Chicopee and Holyoke, Rose shared that Go Fresh plans to stay available this winter through a pilot program that will offer an indoor market service and delivery options. The grant will be dispersed over three years, which will double the amount of people Go Fresh can serve.

Program Director of Go Fresh Market Riley Gilroy explained the operation’s communal approach to gathering fruits and vegetable. In his five years at Go Fresh, Gilroy said he’s worked to develop strong ties to a variety of local farms. Gilroy and the farmers symbiotic support of one another allows Go Fresh to offer an eclectic mixture of produce. He shared that common staple like apples are often intermixed with unique local creations like baby cantaloupe and Asian eggplant. He also gathers ingredients like ginger that serve an added medicinal purpose to Go Fresh’s clientele.