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Wally’s Vegetables of Haverhill is receiving a state grant to make walk-in upgrades and improve storage capacity and ensure food safety with upgraded refrigeration systems.
Wally’s Vegetables, which operates a farm stand at 799 Amesbury Road, was awarded $50,000 from the Climate Smart for Agriculture Program’s Farm Readiness Grant, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
“These investments directly address the day-to-day operational needs of Massachusetts farms,” said Agriculture Commissioner Ashley Randle. “From upgrading farm equipment to improving storage, handling and delivery of Massachusetts-grown products, this program ensures that farms can make timely improvements that enhance their operations without delays from construction or permitting. Ultimately, these quick-impact projects protect local agriculture so residents can continue to access fresh, locally grown food.”
The Haverhill farm stand, managed by the Lesiczka family, offers seasonal vegetables and fruits, potted plants and other goods. It is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The state awarded $1.6 million in grants to 63 agricultural businesses across Massachusetts after, what it called, a competitive review process. Projects were required to be commercially available, installation-ready and capable of being fully completed within a short timeframe. In addition, applicants were required to demonstrate how the proposed investment would improve farm operations through enhanced efficiency, food safety, soil health, energy performance, compost management, resource conservation or other measurable operational outcomes.