As part of an effort to combat food insecurity, the governor’s office announced $26.3 million in grants for farmers and nonprofits across the state on July 20. 

In Dartmouth, three local farms are receiving funds. Flying Carrot Farm on Elm Street will get $60,276, Copicut Farms in North Dartmouth will get $120,000 and Round the Bend Farm in South Dartmouth will get $84,208. 

These grants are meant to improve the infrastructure of the farms and their ability to produce food for the local community, and to help mitigate future supply chain problems. 

Round the Bend is using the grant to bolster its fruit production with a new well and irrigation system. 

“People are always really excited about getting fruit,” said Benoit Azagoh-Kouadio, Garden Manager at Round the Bend. “There really isn’t a whole lot [on the South Coast].”

Azogah-Kouadio said it’s very difficult to grow organic fruit in the area, partially because of the number of fungal diseases that can affect the fruit. As a non-profit, Round the Bend can leverage more resources to fruit production than the average farm in the region. 

The state grant will allow the farm to build the well and irrigation for the fruit tree orchard on its Ocean View property, acquired from the Motha family in 2017. Currently, the orchard is growing peaches, nectarines, pears, apples, kiwi berries and figs.

While the trees have gotten plenty of rain this year, Azogah-Kouadio said the irrigation system will allow the farm to be resilient during drought years. Stress that fruit trees experience early on will affect them throughout their lifespan, he said, which means protecting them during drought is critical. 

“I just think this project is going to be really transformative for this piece of land,” Azogah-Kouadio said. “It’s going to help us farm in a way that really shows our value.”

Most of the fruit will go to the farm’s “Manifest Love” program, which brings local food to families in New Bedford through partnerships with YWCA Southeastern MA, Youth Opportunities Unlimited and NorthStar Learning Centers.

The farm hopes to do the hard land removal work for the irrigation this fall, and get everything installed within a year. 

Flying Carrot Farm will be using its funds to grow and store more vegetables in the winter.

The farm will build two coolers for their root vegetables, along with a “high tunnel,” a tall unheated greenhouse, for growing lettuce and winter greens. Even without a heating system, the greenhouse will keep the crops warmer. 

“This really helps us build up the necessary infrastructure to save our farm,” saidd Susan Murray, co-owner of the farm. “Farming needs that extra little help to strengthen the base.”

At the farmers’ market and their farm stand, Flying Carrot Farm accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, along with the additional benefits provided by the Healthy Incentives Program.

The farm also works with Round the Bend’s Manifest Love project, and has donated to United Way of Greater New Bedford. 

Copicut Farms did not respond to requests for comment.