Concord Ag Day has its roots in Massachusetts history. In 1794, the country’s first agricultural society was formed. Its activities were centered in Concord beginning in 1820 with the first annual cattle show. Premiums were awarded for the best in various categories of produce, livestock, farm products, handiwork, etc.
By the middle of the nineteenth century, Concord had just turned 200 years old and had a population of around 2,000. Always a farming town, by the 1840s, Concord’s agricultural economy was in flux, and the crops and farms that had been so important to the town in its first 200 years were evolving. By the dawn of the twentieth century, Concord agriculture had changed in many ways, from the people who were farming to the crops they were growing.
A well-known tale professes good farmers grow great vegetables, but great farmers grow superb soil. Gaining Ground has superb soil.
Since its inception 27 years ago, Gaining Ground has consistently met its mission of ‘providing equitable access to healthy food and sustainably grown produce.’ The key to their success is a supportive board, an outstanding office team, knowledgeable farm staff, and a dedicated volunteer crew. Together, using three acres of farmland, they grow approximately 100,000 pounds of produce annually, serving 1,200 households weekly.