Facts & FAQs

About BAV

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the development and viability of local farms and food system businesses in order to build a thriving and equitable local food economy. 

Why is BAV needed?
BAV provides access to low-interest loans, business technical assistance, and other strategic resources specifically geared to local farms and food producers. In addition to these core services, BAV has developed targeted programs that address pressing issues in our region, including access to local meat processing services and climate smart practices. Learn how BAV supports food and food producers through our targeted Initiatives.  

Where does BAV work? 
BAV supports farms and food businesses in the Berkshire-Taconic Region of New England, including: Berkshire County, MA, Columbia and Dutchess Counties, NY, and Litchfield County, CT. From time to time, projects will extend outside of our primary service area but our focus remains the four county, three state Berkshire-Taconic region. View BAV’s Interactive GIS Map to see examples of projects in this region.

How can I support BAV?
BAV relies on support from our local community. Learn how you can Support BAV.

BAV Assistance 

What forms of assistance are available through BAV? 
BAV provides assistance in the form of flexible financing, business technical assistance, and other strategic resources. Learn how BAV supports food and food producers through our targeted Initiatives.  

What is Business Technical Assistance? 
Business Technical Assistance is any form of professional help, guidance or support provided to business owners. For BAV clients, this assistance is tailored to specific needs of our farmers and food producers. Examples include: business and financial planning, marketing and branding, and grant-writing services. Learn about BAV’s Business Technical Assistance Program.

Who is eligible for BAV’s services?
Our services are open to farms and food producers in the Berkshire-Taconic region regardless of race, ethnic background, gender identity, or sexual identity.

Do you only work with for-profit food producers? 
BAV works with nonprofit farms and partners with organizations like Conservation Districts and Land Conservancies. All projects are reviewed in the spirit of BAV’s mission to support farmers and grow the regional food economy. Submit an inquiry or Contact Us to see how BAV can help.

What is BAV’s process for reviewing requests? 
Farmers and food producers are asked to complete an application process as part of BAV’s mission to provide support to grow the regional food economy. An intake with one of our team members begins the process, which can be set up by submitting an inquiry form or by contacting us directly. Requests are reviewed by our team and eligible candidates are invited to submit a full application. After a full application is submitted to BAV, requests can take between 2-4 weeks for business assistance and 4-8 weeks for loan applications depending on the due diligence involved. Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis.  

Why Local Matters

How does BAV’s loan fund help grow the regional food economy?
BAV’s Revolving Loan Funds program provides low-interest and below-market-rate loans to eligible farms and food businesses. The purpose of the loan funds is economic development and business assistance to grow the regional food economy; these funds do not generate a return for investors, financial returns are reinvested back into the loan fund, allowing them to be recirculated into the local food economy in perpetuity. Learn more about our Loans & Financing Initiatives.

How does BAV help improve farmer resilience to climate change?
BAV’s Climate Smart Agriculture Initiative helps farmers work towards implementing climate change solutions or explore strategies that allow them to adapt to the realities of a changing world. Past projects include no-till farming and agroforestry.

How does BAV help improve access to farmland? 
Access to affordable farmland is considered a top issue for farmers nationwide, and is of particular importance in the Berkshires. BAV supports farmland access through our Business & Technical Assistance Program, Loans & Financing Initiative, and the Harry Conklin Fund for Farmsteads.

Don’t see your question here or looking for more information? Please Contact Us.