Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes March 12_2014Northampton Agricultural Commission
Agenda and Minutes
7:30 PM Wednesday March 12, 2014
210 Main Street, Room 10 (2nd floor, City Hall), Northampton, MA
Members present: Chair John Omasta, Vice Chair Rich Jaescke, John Bobala, and Chip Parsons. (Maggie Gifford, Robert Vollinger, and Stan Zawalick were unable to attend.)
Staff present: Wayne Feiden. John Omasta opened the meeting at 7:35 PM
Public comment: There was no public comment
Approval of Agriculture Commission Minutes of February 12, 2014: Upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by Rich Jaescke, the Commission voted unanimously to approve.
Keep Farming Final report: The Commission reviewed the report and its recommendations.
There was interest in a three-season or year-round farmers market IF feasible and not requiring on-going subsidy. Some of the Smith College students are going to report back on what
has worked in other communities and how the financing worked.
The Commission felt that some items might be good ideas but would clearly be the work of other partners local food week (Chamber, perhaps CISA), double food stamp benefits (health and
the farmers market), processing facility (private investment, perhaps in some kind of public/private partnership) .
A couple of items would clearly need to be led by others (CISA, BID, economic development coordinator, Chamber, Health, Schools, Pioneer Valley Growers, Grow Food Northampton), although
the Commission might have a small facilitation role (marketing, institutional networking, community workshops).
A mobile marketplace application might best be combined with a buy local app, instead of being a standalone. Such effort might involve other partners (Chamber, CISA, BID, Grow Food
Northampton, economic development, perhaps Smith College student programmers, perhaps the annual tech programming event).
Identify opportunities and priorities for agriculture preservation restrictions: The Commission discussed at least one possible site and will help get the word out to farmers.
Other items not identified when the agenda was written: Rich and John reported on a meeting that they were invited to with Grow Food Northampton. They also led a discussion about the
stormwater utility discussions they had with city councilors and how farmers would be treated in that utility.
The Commission adjourned at 9:25 PM.