SOUTH DEERFIELD - Dressed in a T-shirt, khaki slacks and a baseball cap, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern learned that Atlas Farm here was all organic, had a Boston market and could use some farm management help.
This was the sixth out seven farms the Worcester congressman was visiting on the first day of his two-day farm tour.
He had stopped in at Simple Gifts Farms in Amherst and Boisvert Farm and the North Hadley Sugar Shack in Hadley just before making his way here Monday afternoon. He began the day in North Brookfield.
This is the fourth year McGovern has toured area farms in his district.
Gideon Porth, who owns the farm, took the congressman on a tour of his fields and explained some of the challenges as well as the crops he grows including sweet potatoes, greens and celeriac among his produce.
"I've become a fan of celeriac," McGovern told him in reference to the variety of celery that has an edible turnip-shaped root.
Porth said it's hard to find qualified managers and workers who stay. He said he's hired students from the University of Massachusetts who leave after a couple of years either to pursue their own farm or leave the trade.
But he said his Boston market is strong and about 80 percent of his wholesale business is there.
Porth started Atlas 12 years ago and farms 85 acres. He said his business has been growing ever year.
A member of the House Agricultural Committee, McGovern said he wants to learn about the farming in his district and is impressed with the diversity and how farmers are surviving.
He said Porth saw there was a market for organic food and is successful.
He said it's imperative "for all of to support buy local." He wants people to "appreciate locally grown food."
And he said people get the best quality when buying from their local famers. "You can depend on the food quality," he said. Local farmers need their customers and want to ensure they offer the best quality.
McGovern, an advocate for ending hunger, said touting the importance of local farming is part of that. "Food is medicine."
He wants to see sustainable agriculture in all 50 states.
Porth said, "I'm not expecting a huge windfall from (the visit.)" But he said, "It's great to have a politician looking at agriculture on the ground."
Joe Boisvert, who runs the sugar shack and farm store in Hadley, said he was also happy to see the congressman.
"I love it. It helps us, why not let people see (what he does.) "
Scott Soares, the United States Department of Agriculture's state director for rural development, was one of many state and local officials who accompanied McGovern.
He said it's important to "see the breadth of agricultural." He said, "it's good to hear first hand (from farmers.)"
Sandy Thomas, a community marketing specialist at the University of Massachusetts, accompanied McGovern on the last four farms of the day because many farmers work with the extension service.
McGovern said he was a little jealous of the farmers although he admitted he wouldn't survive out on the fields.
At the end of the day they can point to what they've produced. There's something tangible. With Congress, he said there are days when he's not so lucky.