AMHERST – A long-running downtown Amherst restaurant is adding a grocery market to its operation, while a North Amherst farm is expanding its ability to grow and distribute greens during the winter.
Black Sheep Deli on Main Street and Queen’s Greens on Russellville Road are among several local businesses and farms receiving some of $3.3 million in state grants announced by the Baker-Polito Administration this week to address food insecurity that has developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money is from the second round of a $36 million Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program.
“Increasing access to fresh, local food is critical to ensure the health and well being of all Commonwealth families,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement.
Black Sheep is getting $98,000 to convert a section of the store that has been used as a dining area into a market by purchasing refrigerators and an oven. In addition, a refrigerated van will be acquired for making deliveries.
“We’re on the cutting edge of a food delivery system, and feel like we can fill a niche,” owner Nick Seamon said.
While Amherst center has restaurants, it has not had grocery options since Louis Foods moved to University Drive in 1986. Seamon said produce, meats, fish, and cheese will be among the main items available at the market.
Queen’s Greens is getting two grants, totaling $126,982, to build three new tunnel greenhouses for growing spinach in the winter and increasing production to serve about 25% more customers. Additional farm and greenhouse equipment will allow the farm to grow and distribute greens throughout the winter.
Locally, the largest grant, for $225,191, is going to Warner Farms in Sunderland. A portion of that money will construct a packing shed for the growing operations and to provide greater distancing and better hygiene facilities for workers. The other portion will go to buy a refrigerated box truck.
McCray’s Farm in South Hadley is getting $165,763 to buy new milk processing equipment. The current machinery has been overwhelmed and is seeing frequent mechanical breakdowns.
In Leverett, the Village Co-op will use $18,897 to buy glass-door coolers to replace failing equipment. These new refrigerators will display, store, and sell produce and refrigerated products at the only grocery store serving people in Leverett, Shutesbury and Wendell.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
