Agriculture in Massachusetts
ZIP codes in our Massachusetts data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture in Massachusetts is built around small, diversified farms that serve dense nearby urban markets across New England. Direct sales through farm stands, farmers markets, and community supported agriculture are especially important here, so growers and gardeners often focus on high-value fresh produce, ornamentals, and specialty crops. The state is also home to iconic regional products such as cranberries and maple syrup.
Farming in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is best known for cranberries, which are grown in bogs concentrated in the southeastern part of the state, and the state is consistently one of the top cranberry producers in the country. Greenhouse and nursery products, including floriculture and ornamental plants, make up one of the largest shares of the state's farm sales because of the strong local demand for landscaping and garden plants. Other important products include apples grown in central and western orchards, sweet corn and mixed vegetables, dairy cattle, and maple syrup produced in the hilltowns of the west. Coastal communities also support a significant shellfish and aquaculture sector, with oysters and other shellfish farmed along the shoreline and in coastal estuaries.
Climate and growing conditions
Massachusetts has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers, moderated near the coast by the Atlantic Ocean. The frost-free growing season generally runs from roughly late April or May into October, and it is shorter in the western hills and longer along the coast and on the islands. USDA hardiness zones range from about 5a in the Berkshires and higher inland areas to about 7a on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.
Major agricultural products
- Cranberries
- Greenhouse and nursery products (floriculture and ornamentals)
- Apples
- Sweet corn and mixed vegetables
- Dairy products
- Maple syrup
- Hay
- Shellfish and aquaculture (oysters)
Hardiness zones in Massachusetts
Growers in Massachusetts fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Massachusetts
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Massachusetts
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (15 counties):
Market prices & data for Massachusetts
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.