services: kitchen
TOURS
This tour provides you an overview of our kitchen facility designed by Don Plant of DCP Design and architect Michael Walker AIA, built by Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School students through their Off-Campus Construction Program and funded by the Town of Dartmouth through their Agricultural Preservation Trust Fund and Community Preservation Fund.
To make an appointment for an actual tour of the kitchen, click here.
FEES
The Grange Kitchen requires each member to pay an annual fee. In addition, the kitchen is rented on an hourly basis for an hourly fee. The fee is dependent on what type of product you plan on producing, i.e. baked goods or jams and jellies. Call or email us for more information specific to your product and ideas.
Benefits of membership in the Grange Kitchen include
- Convenient access with a members-only issued pass code
- Priority scheduling for production and storage areas
- Technical assistance
RATE INFORMATION
Costs for production vary depending on your needs and your product. The Grange Kitchen charges an initial membership fee, hourly fees for production, and fees for storage rental. Please contact the kitchen coordinator for more details. All scheduled kitchen production and rental times include free post-production cleaning time.
HOURS
The Grange Kitchen is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Members may enter the Grange Kitchen by way of an access code issued by the Dartmouth Grange.
Non-member access is permitted by appointment only.
Become a Member! Grange Kitchen Members receive priority scheduling and assistance in finding experts to help with the research and development for your business from recipe scale-ups to food analysis and more, through a collaboration with the Massachusetts and County Departments of Public Health, Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership, Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship, Small Business Development Centers, the Chamber of Commerce and the Massachusetts Specialty Food Association.
MISSION
"To strengthen and increase economic stability and vitality in the community and consequently the region, starting with the agricultural community."
How will the Kitchen help preserve our local farms, of which there are over 250 located within a 30 mile radius of the Dartmouth Grange? One way is to increase the value of farm products. This can be done in many ways including cleaning, cooling, cooking, combining, drying, labeling, packaging, distribution, etc. And in addition to offering a higher economic return, value-added products can open new markets, create recognition for a farm and expand the market season. Another way is to encourage the growth and development of specialty food processing businesses, which can also make a positive contribution to our farms sustainability, by purchasing produce directly from the farmer. Furthermore, we are committed to promoting the purchase and consumption of fresh, locally grown products.
VISION
The Grange Kitchen’s vision is to help farm and food businesses thrive, in turn, contributing to the social, economic, and ecological well being of our communities.
Yet to thrive, these businesses require the support of the communities that they benefit. While the kitchen may be a tool to supports farms, community members and developers, too, need to know both how to support farms and food businesses and how to use them as the engines of community and economic development that they are.
Informed and Supportive Communities = Vibrant Farms + Vibrant Food Businesses
Vibrant Farms + Vibrant Food Businesses = Vibrant Communities.
How can you help support our farms and food businesses?
- Be a voice for agriculture –ask your local governmental planning and zoning committees to place restrictions on the rezoning and development of agricultural lands. Support development that is compact, conserves land, integrates uses, and fosters a sense of place.
- Buy local - purchase your meat and produce directly from farm stands or from local farmers’ markets. In addition, you can often purchase these products from local food co-ops. If you are unsure of which farms raise their livestock and produce naturally, it’s as easy as a phone call to the local farmer. He will be happy to tell you what his farming practices are.
- Help foster sustainable business – we cannot preserve the agricultural industry by protecting land alone. Support agricultural enterprises in agritourism, the creation and purchase of value added products, global marketing via the world wide web and the Grange Kitchen. (link to donate?)
- Vote and/or Volunteer -support local farmland protection efforts, local land trusts, town agricultural preservation committees and agricultural commissions and the Grange.