DIVISION OF MARKETS 

 John J. Fitzgerald, Director 



PRODUCT PROMOTION 



This was a year of great progress for the Massachusetts 

 Grown and Fresher! program. The Division assisted Mass. poultry- 

 producers in negotiating with a large food chain in the Boston 

 area to supply Massachusetts eggs for 30 of their stores and 

 eventually supply the entire 60 stores in the Boston DlYlfiio&. 

 Each carton will have the name of the food chain and the words 

 "Massachusetts Produced and Fresher, " Egg producers are now 

 making plans to increase their flocks by at least 300,000 

 layers to reach their goal to supply the demands of the food 

 chain. It is quite evident the Division was the prime mover 

 in this negotiation. 



Although the Division is in charge of Promotional Funds 

 which assist commodity groups with their promotional program, 

 they also meet with their promotional coomittees and offer 

 guidance, provide them with advertising material and make 

 arrangements with radio and television stations for interviews. 

 Through the years the Division has developed T-shirts, aprons, 

 tote bags, and license plates with the Massachusetts grown 

 logo for roadside stands, farmers markets, nursery centers 

 and the general public, at a small cost. 



The Division's promotional activities included the 

 designing and construction of the Department's exhibit at the 

 New England Spring Flower and Garden Show. A soil sampling 

 program allowed patrons to bring soil to the exhibit i»*iere 

 our staff provided an analysis and answered questions related 

 to home gardening. The Department's exhibit received a 

 Gold Medal, The Division also exhibited at fairs, public buildings 

 and shopping malls to promote Massachusetts agricultxire . 

 The Division conducts farm tours for the press, food industry, 

 and visiting dignitaries. The Division is the primary liaison 

 with the agricultural sector for the Department. 



The Division provides a seirvice to the public as well as the 

 farmers of our state. Yearly lists are published informing 

 the public where they can pick their own apples, blueberries, 

 strawberries, other fruit, vegetables or where they can buy 

 a fresh turkey from a local grower and cut a fresh Massachusetts 

 Christmas tree. For the commercial vegetable grower, the 

 Division has published the Green Book, listing the names of 

 vegetable growers and their crops and acreage. The Green 

 Book is distributed to various buyers throughout the state 

 that show an interest in buying local produce. 



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