Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local farmers and strengthening our local food system. They provide flexible financing, expert business assistance, and other resources to help our farmers grow their businesses and contribute to a healthy economy and community in the Berkshires and beyond.
Wild Oats Market Strengthens Local Farms with $2,213.44 Donation to Berkshire Agricultural Ventures!
Thanks to our community’s generosity, Wild Oats Market proudly contributed $2,213.44 through our Every Penny Counts program in March 2025, supporting local farms and food businesses across the Berkshires!
BAV empowers farmers and food producers with vital funding, expanding access to fresh, local food and strengthening our region’s agricultural economy.
(photo: Netse Lytle (General Manager, Wild Oats Market) and Audrey Hackett, Communications & Development Manager, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures).
This funding helps expand access to fresh, local food through SNAP matching programs at farmers markets, ensuring a more resilient food system for all. BAV’s commitment to farmers and sustainable agriculture makes a lasting impact across the Berkshires, and we’re honored to contribute to their mission. Thank you for shopping local and making every penny count in our community!
“We are so grateful for this support from Wild Oats Market and the Northern Berkshires community,” said BAV Executive Director Rebecca Busansky. “The ‘Every Penny Counts’ program is such a wonderful way to honor and boost local nonprofits, and BAV deeply appreciates being a recipient of this community-oriented program. Thank you to Wild Oats Market and your customers for nurturing a stronger community and supporting the dedicated work of local nonprofits.”
Their Market Match Fund specifically supports SNAP matching programs at Berkshire-area farmers markets in order to increase the availability of fresh, local food and create stronger livelihoods for local farmers. They currently support 10 local farmers markets, including Williamstown and North Adams in the Northern Berkshires.
BAV was founded in 2017 in order to support farmers, protect farmland, increase local food access, and strengthen our local economy. They are based in Great Barrington, MA, and they work with farms and food businesses in the tristate area of MA, CT, and NY.
Every Penny Counts March 2025 Recipient
Your spare change can make a big difference with Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV), a community nonprofit helping farmers and food producers in our region grow and thrive! BAV is “here for our farmers” – providing flexible financing and one-to-one business assistance to local farmers and food entrepreneurs. Their efforts support a stronger, more resilient food system for all of us.
Since 2017, BAV has served 179 farmers with $2.1 million in loans, $1.5 million in microgrants to farmers markets and farmers/food businesses, and 2,000+ hours annually in business services such as financial planning and grant-writing support.