Awards and Recognitions

Barberry Hill Farms of Madison has been awarded a Cultivating Change grant worth $5,000. Established in 1909, Barberry Hill Farms operates a fourth generation, family-owned farm serving the community by growing fresh produce and implementing organic practices. The farm has used organic practices since 1910 by maintaining the fields using leaves as a mulch and soil builder. Every fall it opens its fields for homeowners and landscapers to compost their leaves, which has eliminated the need of a town leaf compost collection facility. In 2016, Barberry Hill Farms was approached by a local school system food service to help supply it with produce for the schools in the area. In order to meet the food safety requirements of the school system, it was deemed necessary for Barberry Hill Farms to invest in a walk-in refrigerator. This would not have been financially feasible if it weren’t for the Cultivating Change grant.

Cultivating Change is a local farm grant program created by Greener Fields Together as a way to give back to the local farmers who play a crucial role in PRO*ACT’s fresh produce supply chain. Funded by donations from PRO*ACT’s distributor network, Cultivating Change is committed to supporting local farms to improve their ability to grow, market, and distribute safe and sustainable produce.

Barberry Hill Farms’ grant of $5,000 will be put toward the installation of a new walk-in refrigeration system to increase food safety and adhere to GAP certification standards. Through the past several years, Barberry Hill Farms has been limited in production due to inability to maintain produce at a cool temperature. With the increase of demand, they have had difficulties storing everything that has come out of the fields. With a new refrigeration unit, they will be able to store vegetables and fruit in an efficient manner, thereby improving food safety and increasing the lifespan of their products. This new addition will be essential to their future growth and ability to meet the market demand for organic and local produce.

Charles “Chip” Walz, a portfolio manager and financial advisor in the Morgan Stanley Wealth Management office in Madison, has been named to the Firm’s Pacesetter’s Club, a global recognition program for financial advisors who, within their first five years, demonstrate the highest professional standards and first class client service.

Walz, who has been with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management since 2013, is a native of Madison. He holds a bachelor of science degree with merit from United States Naval Academy and a master of business administration degree with honors from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Additions and Promotions

Madison resident Kelly O’Brien has affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in East Lyme. As a sales associate, O’Brien will provide residential real estate services in Madison as well as the surrounding shoreline communities.