Pepperell Sets August 20 Ribbon Cutting for New Regional Cold Storage Facility

Agricultural Commission · Meeting of July 6, 2026

Pepperell Agricultural Commission sets August 20 ribbon cutting for new Edward Kennedy Cold Storage Food Facility. The commission voted unanimously to approve minutes from its May 13 and February 16 meetings before receiving an extended presentation from Ann Yagel of Growing Places on the regional food center now taking shape in town: a 4,100-square-foot cold storage warehouse at the former Pepperell Braiding building, built out with a 36-foot walk-in freezer, multiple humidity-controlled cooler units, and a walkie stacker for palletizing, funded in part by two state earmarks and connected operationally to a Growing Places produce processing kitchen in Gardner processing about 1,000 pounds of produce per day. Commission Chair Cheryl Rozoff confirmed the morning event will honor the late Senator Edward Kennedy and will seek remarks from Senator Howard's office through chief of staff James Austis.

The commission also set October 4 as the target date for Open Farm Day and scheduled a follow-up meeting for July 15 to review a UMass Extension best-practices table on farm pollution and complaint protocols provided by Dr. Masoud Hashemi, and to advance a Right to Farm bylaw warrant article facing a fall Town Meeting submission deadline.

In the full story:

• Background and stakes
• The question before the body
• Substantive content
• The deliberation
• Rozoff framed the broader significance of the project for Emmett and Clarkin
• Procedural steps and outcome
• The complete report — 2,900 words

Source: the Agricultural Commission meeting of July 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.