FOREWORD 



Established in 1852, the Department of Agriculture 

 in Massachusetts traditionally has been a regulatory 

 agency to ensure the quality of farm products and prevent 

 disease in poultry, livestock and plants. 



The role of the Department has evolved in keeping 

 with changing times, and particularly in the last decade, 

 we have taken a leadership role in the promotion of 

 Massachusetts agricultural products and the preservation 

 of the state's hard pressed farmland. Stimulating 

 consumer demand for locally grown foods and increasing 

 production on every available acre of tillage are 

 efforts that go hand in hand. 



Energy and inflation will continue to challenge 

 us in the 'eighties, and the spiraling cost of fuel 

 to transport the bulk of our food supply from distant 

 states dictates that we increase production here in the 

 Northeast, 



The ten Northeastern state Departments of Agri- 

 culture have this year initiated a new commitment to 

 bolster the region's farm economy, and cooperative efforts 

 and policies toward this end cannot help but improve 

 our agricultural situation in Massachusetts, 



Our Department of Food & Agriculture is engaged 

 in many programs that benefit both farmers and consumers, 

 and this report summarizes the past year's major 

 activities. We welcome public participation in our 

 efforts and invite suggestions from the private sector 

 to improve our program of work. 



Frederic Winthrop, Jr, ' 

 Commissioner of Food 

 and Agriculture 



AlGssachusetts 

 grown ...and fresher! 



Annual Report, July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979 



Publication # 11 724-30-200-1 -80-C,R. 



Approved by Alfred C. Holland, State Purchasing Agent 



