At Roots Rising, community-driven growth is at the core of everything we do. This is the story of how we grew from an idea into a movement—one rooted in food, youth, and community.
In 2012, when a fledgling farmers market in Pittsfield called it quits mid-season, it left a void—not just in fresh food access but in the heartbeat of the local food system. We saw an opportunity to create something stronger, something built to last. We approached the city with a vision for a new, thriving farmers market and pulled together a diverse committee—business owners, city staff, neighborhood groups, and local food advocates.
For six months, we researched what makes a market thrive. We analyzed traffic patterns, mapped out where grocery stores were—and weren’t—considered neighborhood income levels and transportation barriers. We wanted a market that was for everyone, where everyone felt they belonged, where nutritious, local food was accessible and affordable to all.
In 2013, the Pittsfield Farmers Market launched in the First Street parking lot, its first home before The Common was renovated. And the community showed up. Week after week, shoppers filled their bags, farmers filled their stands, and a once-empty space became a vibrant hub of local food and connection.
But as the market grew, so did the challenges. Farmers told us that staffing was a major hurdle. They were small-scale growers, deeply committed to their land, but expanding their operations required labor they couldn’t always afford. And while we had hired teens to help at the market, there weren’t enough hours or opportunities to truly make an impact in their lives.
Two needs. One solution.
We built something new—Farm Crew—a farm-based employment program where teens could be paid while working the land. But this was never just about a paycheck. Farm Crew is a transformative experience, one that empowers teens to see themselves as changemakers in their communities.
Working in Crews, teens gain more than just farming skills—they learn to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives, fostering respect, empathy, and understanding. Through shared challenges, they grow both individually and as a team. Whether navigating a tough conversation or pushing through the last stretch of a grueling weeding session, these experiences push teens beyond their comfort zones, strengthening their resilience, communication, and problem-solving skills.
And as they grew, so did the program. Alumni wanted to stay, to lead, to take ownership. So in 2019, Market Crew was born, transforming the Pittsfield Farmers Market into the first teen-run market in the region.
Then, in 2020, the world shifted.
A global pandemic shut down both our Farmers Market and our Youth Crews overnight. But the need for fresh, local food didn’t disappear—it became more urgent. Farmers faced an uncertain season, low-income families lost access to food assistance programs, and high-risk community members needed a safe way to get groceries.
We sprang into action, launching a Virtual Farmers Market in a matter of weeks. It became an efficient, centralized way to order from multiple local farms and vendors, with food packed and delivered straight to people’s doorsteps. The community response was overwhelming. More than 100 volunteers stepped up, packing and delivering food each week for eight months. We processed thousands of orders, generated a quarter of a million dollars in sales to support the local food economy, and provided $100,000 worth of fresh food free to our neighbors in need.
Through this experience, we saw something bigger: food access is about more than just having enough to eat. It’s about dignity, agency, and inclusion. We also learned that meaningful work isn’t just something young people crave—adults are also seeking purpose and connection.
As we navigated this critical time, one thing became clear: Roots Rising needed a permanent home. A place where our work could take root and grow for generations to come.
After years of searching, we found our home. In 2024, Roots Rising acquired 6.5 acres of land to establish its Farm and Education Center—a place where we will nurture the next generation of food system changemakers, and where we will welcome the community to connect to the land, grow food, and learn alongside us.
This is how Roots Rising grows: from challenge to opportunity, from need to action, from seed to harvest.
We hope you will join us as the next chapter unfolds…
