DIVISION OF MARKETS 

 John J. Fitzgerald, Director 



PUBLIC INFORMATION 



Telling the non-farming public about agriculture in our state becomes more 

 important as the numbers of farms and farmers decrease in proportion to city 

 and suburban folks. 



The availability of farm land is essential to maintaining a strong 

 agriculture in an ever urbanizing state, and so piiblic information efforts in 

 this area are most important. 



Press releases and public events announcing farms selected to participate 

 in the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program help call attention 

 to the need for protecting farmland in our state. An article is also written 

 on each farm chosen to take part in this unique farmland preservation program. 



News releases are prepared on other farm issues and Departmental activities 

 such as land use, community gardens, animal health, pesticide and plant pest 

 control programs, fairs and other farm events across the state. 



The marketing and promotion of Massachusetts farm products are of course 

 necessary to a healthy agricultural economy, and so the Department's public 

 information program concentrates in this area. 



In addition to press releases covering the production of major local crops, 

 the Division prepared more leaflets in the series covering the nutritive value, 

 selection and preparation of Massachusetts grown vegetables and fruits. 



News media requesting information were assisted directly or referred to 

 appropriate personnel in the Department or other public or private agencies. 



The Division also compiled and publicized the listing of farmers market 

 locations across the state, and cooperated with the Massachusetts Federation 

 of Farmers and Gardeners Markets and the Cooperative Extension Service in 

 promoting various direct marketing outlets for local farmers. 



Public service announcements produced by Channel 5 continued to be used 

 extensively during the summer months by TV stations across the State. 

 Department personnel also continued to take part in various programs such as 

 WBZ Radio's "Countryside" aired Saturday and Sunday mornings, daily market 

 reports aired on WHDH, WEEI, and occasional food demonstration features on 

 the Channel 5's "Good Day" and the Channel 4 "Sharon King" show. 



The second annual awards for news reporting on agricultural topics were 

 sponsored by the Department in cooperation with the Northeast Communications 

 Officers of State Departments of Agriculture. State winners were David C. 

 Denison, Boston Phoenix, 1st prize; Joyce Miller, Concord Patriot, 2nd prize; 

 and Marya Dantzer-Rosenthal, Minute-Man Publications, Lexington, 3rd prize. 



The Division helped in the preparation of the booklet "Northeast, USA," 

 a food and agriculture policy endorsed by state Agriculture Commissioners and 

 Governors and the first such regional document of its kind. 



The third annual "Massachusetts Agriculture Week" took place in August, 

 and the Division coordinated plans with the Cooperative Extension Service, 

 other agriculture agencies and farm leaders across the state. 



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