Big Y in the News
Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates 84 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including 70 supermarkets, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and 13 Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with almost 12,000 employees. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as Employer of Choice by the Employers Association of the Northeast. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D'Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a "Y".
Big Y in the News contains excerpts from press releases that have been sent to local media.
Big Y Sponsors 10th Year of Local Farmer Awards Helping 100 Local Farms Make Infrastructure Improvements
SPRINGFIELD, MA – (April 25, 2024)
Checks of up to $2,500 have been sent to 100 Western Massachusetts farms that are recipients of this year’s Local Farmer Awards. Representing a diverse range of farm operations and infrastructure projects, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture along with other generous funders are delighted to fund this record number of awards in the program’s 10th year.
A team of independent reviewers read each of the 199 applications submitted this year. These reviewers selected 100 farms to receive a 2024 grant from the Local Farmer Awards. The capital projects include the purchase of an Egg Washing Machine, Livestock Pasture Expansion, Reusable Harvest Bins, Cover Crop Flail Mower for Reduced Tillage, Mobile Chicken Coops, and many more. Elyse Cote, production manager at Mountain View Farm in Easthampton, explains “This award will help us purchase a Tilmor Mounted Tine Weeder allowing us to invest in a time saving cultivation technique that I am very excited to get to use this growing season. We are super appreciative of this support from our community.”
Harold Grinspoon, philanthropist, and founder of the program commented “The farmers in our region have done so much for our economy and food supply – yet these wonderful folks never ask for anything! I’m so proud that the Local Farmer Awards have served their needs for the past ten years with cash awards for capital improvements amounting to $1.5 million dollars.”
The program funders collectively contributed over $230,000 this year to assist these local farmers. Funders include Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, Big Y, Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, PeoplesBank, Ann & Steve Davis, Charles & Elizabeth D’Amour, Barbara Deslauriers, Audrey & Chick Taylor, Andrews, Farm Credit East, Hood, the DeNucci Group at Merrill, Baystate Health, Country Bank, Eastern States Exposition, Three County Fair, bankESB, and Franklin First Federal Credit Union. John Lee, president of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, said “We are proud to support the diverse farming enterprises featured in this year’s winning selection.”
Among the winning farms:
- Nearly 25% are new farms (in business 1-5 years). 36% have been in business for over 20+ years.
- Award winning farms are located in all four counties of Western Massachusetts, with 35 coming from Hampshire County, 34 from Franklin County, 17 from Berkshire County and 14 from Hampden County
- Among the winners, the most common ‘primary product’ were vegetables followed by others including meat, fruit, maple, milk, and flowers
- 46% of the winning projects will help farms with the growing process followed by processing (24%), planting (15%), and processing (15%)
“We are delighted to be able to support 100 farms in our 10th year. In 2015, our inaugural year, we provided funds for 33 farms” says Cari Carpenter, the program’s director. “We would have liked to have been able to provide support to more of the farms that applied this year, but our fund limit required the reviewers to make some difficult choices.”
Anyone interested in supporting the 2025 Local Farmer Awards should contact Cari Carpenter at the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation - Cari@hgf.org Carpenter emphasizes that in addition to the Local Farmer Awards there are many ways to champion local agriculture for example: through CSAs, farmers markets, farm stands, pick-your-owns, and at grocery stores and restaurants that source local food.
See 2024 Farmer Awards Winner List FINAL.pdf.
-The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation supports local education, farming, and energy initiatives in the Western Massachusetts region. hgcf.org
Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including supermarkets, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and Big Y Express gas and convenience locations with over 10,000 employees. Big Y has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and in 2023 for both Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and for Women. They are ranked at number 72 on Progressive Grocer’s PG 100, annual list of North America’s top food retailers. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D'Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a "Y".
-The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture provides grants to enterprises which will promote agriculture in Massachusetts. promotingmassag.org