Amherst harvest festival draws a crowd

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Dozens of families gathered on Friday at the North Amherst community farm for their fourth annual Harvest festival.

As event organizer Don Gallagher explains, the 40-acre farm off of route 116 grows organic produce for some three hundred Hampshire County families.

Gallagher told 22News, the land was originally slated for development, but instead its been retained for its original use of growing food for local residents.

"We've been working for 5 years to save the farm. Developers were going to pay over $2-million," explained Gallagher. "With the farm families we decided to raise $1.2 million, we're half way there."

Gallagher told 22News this was an important day for the local families who have bought a share in the farm to enjoy its organically grown bounty.