Welcome to the new Edible Pioneer Valley! It’s been six long years, but we’re back and so happy to be here with you. As the new publisher, I know I have big shoes to fill. Before her last issue, in spring 2020, former publisher Mary Reilly and her team produced a stunning magazine that was loved and respected for six-plus years, and I know that many of you have missed that vital community resource. As the publisher of Edible Berkshires, I know how gratifying it is to create a magazine that helps build connections between all the participants in our food ecosystem: farmers, makers, restaurateurs, retailers, readers, and advertisers. We believe strongly that great storytelling and beautiful photographs and illustrations help foster those connections, giving readers access and insight into the people who grow, make, sell, and serve our food and igniting stronger desire to support the businesses that are the engine of our local economies.

In this issue, you’ll find some familiar names and features. We welcome back former “Chef’s Kitchen” columnist Sandy D’Amato, who retired that column but graciously allowed us to republish his asparagus soup recipe because it’s spring in the Valley and we can’t think of a better way to give asparagus its due. We are also reviving the Farmer-in-Residence column—a feature I liked so much that I started a similar feature in Edible Berkshires last year. In this magazine, we welcome Harrison Bardwell of Bardwell Farm as our new Farmer in Residence. Like his predecessor, Casey Steinberg of Old Friends Farm, Harrison will tell us in his own words exactly what happens on the farm seasonally, giving us insight into and appreciation for the joys and challenges of farming. In the last published issue of the previous Edible Pioneer Valley, the magazine had just launched a collaboration with local publisher Interlink to feature recipes from the company’s award-winning cookbooks. I’m happy to report that we’ve resurrected that relationship and that Interlink co-owner Leyla Moushabeck will be a regular contributor, choosing a seasonal recipe to share with us in each issue. You are in for a treat!

If you have picked up a copy of Edible Berkshires on your travels west, you will notice that we share some content between the two magazines: our wine column, written by sommelier Philippe Jeanjean; an occasional recipe feature (ramps this time!); a beautifully illustrated story on planting native veggies; and a new feature called “Things We Keep” in which we wax poetic on meaningful kitchen objects. But the bulk of Edible Pioneer Valley will always be Valley-specific. In these pages, we give you a farmers market map and listings, and stories about Mamou in Springfield, Incandescent Brewery in Bernardston, Reed Farm in Sunderland, and the lowdown on fishing throughout the region. We hope you love it as much as we have loved making it for you!

I want to give a special shoutout to all the ad partners in this issue, many of whom were loyal advertisers in Edible Pioneer Valley in its previous iteration. Their support reflects how much the magazine was missed and how excited folks are to have it back. We will not disappoint you!

I’ll close by telling you a little bit about me, because I hope we’ll be spending lots of time together. I was born and raised in the Berkshires (Housatonic to be specific) and am the granddaughter of Polish immigrants who regularly made pilgrimages to Gawron’s in Chicopee for kielbasa (especially at Easter). I still can’t resist paczki, chrusciki, galumpkis, and pierogies (if you know, you know!). I’m a lifelong journalist specializing in entrepreneurship, a pretty decent home chef, a gardener, nature nerd, and nascent beekeeper along with my husband who drives that bus (along with our delivery vehicle!). I’d love to know more about you. Send us your ideas and feedback or just drop me a line to say hello ([email protected]). Here’s to spring, the season of rebirth, and to Edible Pioneer Valley’s return!

Donna