Building Resilience, Together.
The world is changing very quickly nowadays and it’s hard to keep track of all of the challenges facing us. New technologies, climate change, and the consolidation of power in our society have highlighted a need for resilience in our communities.
At the Hilltown CDC, we want to contribute to the resilience of our food system and the workers within it. We believe that access to healthy food is a right to all people and that farmers deserve a dignified income for feeding their communities. We believe that the health of the environment and the health of our food system are intensely intertwined, and we reject the notion that sustainability in agriculture doesn’t scale. Most importantly, we know that a strong food system is a connected one.
Interconnectedness across the food system has the potential to increase food access to those in need, improve both farmer’s and our larger community’s standard of living, adapt our growing systems to changing climactic realities, and evolve our cultural understanding of the food we eat and how it gets to our tables. Building an agricultural economy that shares information, resources, and infrastructure is critical to this goal, and we are changing our programs to be amicable to this kind of growth. Thank you for your support so far, and we are looking forward to building resilience, together.
-Jake Russell, Director of Community Food Resilience
Community Resources
In some cases we aren’t able to serve you in the way that you need. For all of those times, below is a list of places you can look and find the help you need. These resources are administered by trusted food system and social service networks to meet you where you are, whether you’re in the Hilltowns or elsewhere.
Just Roots -Subsidized CSA for Franklin County- Just Roots offers a heavily subsidized CSA program for towns that Hilltown CDC can’t reach in Franklin County. They have their summer share open until October 2026, with a 3 season CSA opening up for sign up soon. Link: CSA Farm Shares 2026
413 Cares -General Assistance- 413 Cares is an online resource network and hub that services the entire state. If you click the link here and enter your zip code, you’ll be able to find resources for not only food assistance, but also mental health help, addiction treatment, and housing assistance.
Food Source Hotline (1-800-645-8333) - If you are having trouble finding affordable groceries and don’t know where to start looking, Project Bread, in collaboration with DTA, has a hotline available Mon-Fri 8AM-7PM and Sat 10AM-2PM. Learn if you are eligible for SNAP (financial assistance for groceries) and help you apply, find free meals for kids through Summer Eats or School Meals, SNAP recipients can learn how and where to use their HIP benefits to purchase farm fresh produce, Find hot meal programs and food pantries, and more when you call.
The Agriculturalist Repository
Below you will find folders with PDFs containing information about agricultural systems. This information is meant to be utilized by any interested party looking to expand knowledge of best growing practices, resource conservation systems, independent energy systems, and much more. All PDFs are free to view and download.
Didn’t find the information you were looking for? Fill out the form below to request it to be added to the repository.
If you are having an issue accessing the repository, email Jake Russell at jaker@hilltowncdc.org
Want to build a Food Access Program?
In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, we’ve developed a comprehensive toolkit to empower organizations and individuals to establish food access programs. We believe everyone deserves access to healthy, locally sourced food and that the farmers who make this possible should be fairly compensated for their hard work.
If you have any questions or would like feedback as you explore the toolkit, please feel free to reach out. We support your efforts to create a more equitable and accessible food system for your community.
Check out the Hilltown Food Access Map
We collaborated with the Hilltown Food Policy Council to create a comprehensive map of all farms, grocery stores, and meal services in the Hilltowns. If you would like your business to be included, please reach out.
office hours and Hilltown circle meeting link
Starting on August 17th, the Hilltown Food System Circle will be meeting online on the link below from 4-6 PM. An agenda will be made and sent out before the meeting, with the first half of the meeting being more structured with agenda items, and the latter half focusing on community input on the Hub, food access, and any other challenges having to do with the Food System.
History of Our Programs
Launched in 2014 with support from a federal Local Food Promotion Program grant, Keep Farming in the Hilltowns is a collaborative initiative with Healthy Hampshire and CISA focused on strengthening the region’s local food system by supporting farmers, improving food access, and building a resilient rural economy. A cornerstone of this work is the Hilltown Market, which began as a mobile market serving isolated and low-income residents and has since evolved into a year-round brick-and-mortar store in Worthington, while maintaining delivery services to reach all communities. Together, these efforts reflect an ongoing commitment to expanding market opportunities for farmers, increasing access to fresh local food, and fostering a connected, sustainable food system across the Hilltowns.
For more information about our business assistance program, opportunities for Hilltown Farmers, or questions about food access, please contact Jake Russell at jaker@hilltowncdc.org or 413-296-4536 x116
HIP CSA SHARE
Click the link below to go to our DTA Connect page to sign up for the HIP CSA pilot program!
Every other Wednesday we deliver $20 or $40 worth of locally grown produce right to your door using the HIP benefit, ensuring that you get the most out of your SNAP card while supporting your local farmers!
The Hilltown Market is In Season!
Visit us at our store at 19 Sawyer Road, Worthington, MA, 01098
Get the freshest seasonal produce and highest quality animal products from your neighbors in the Hilltowns! It grows our local economy and makes our farmers more resilient!
Click here to go to our online store and place an order for delivery or pickup.
Want to sell with us? Email market@hilltowncdc.org so we can talk shop!
Call for Partnership!
Our food and farming programs are preparing for a transition into a larger role in the Food System with the ongoing construction of the Hilltown Community Food Hub in Cummington!!!
Strong partnerships with food system stakeholders across the entire supply chain will be critical to the success of this project. If you want to be in the loop on this project and the opportunities that it will bring, please fill out the relevant forms below.
food Hub Stakeholder Meeting Notes and Slides
Next Meeting is Monday September 21st, 5-7. Click here to join.