Douglas P. Gillespie, Executive Director of the Mass. Farm Bureau, has been named as the Blue Ribbon Award winner this year and will be feted at a local foods luncheon and award ceremony at noon at the Brigham Hill Community Farm Barn in No. Grafton on September 30.

The Blue Ribbon Award is given out as a highlight of Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week, which is September 27 through October 1 this year. The recipient is recognized by the Mass. Farm to School Project as someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and vision in supporting viable farm to school connections in the state. Doug's support has been a big component in the success of the Mass. program, which now counts 195 school districts and 95 farms as participants in farm to school transactions. The nine farmers recently featured on "trading cards" as the 2010 Mass. Farm to School team will be on hand to congratulate Doug.

For information about Doug's award, his luncheon, or about the technical assistance that is available to farmers from the Mass. Farm to School Project, please contact mafarmtoschool@gmail.com or 413-253-3844.