partnerships
Sustainable Agriculture Partnerships
Part of our vision for this site is to help educate people about food, food systems, and farm business sustainability.
Our area is widely renowned for its magnificent stretches of sandy white beaches and remarkable natural resources, historical and cultural sites and a unique charm that truly defines it as a New England seaside community. We have retained our long-standing rural character, flavored with a mixture of agriculture and fishing, but it is being threatened.
Our area has seen unparalleled growth. The increasing growth gives way to the selling of active farms that frequently dotted the rambling roads behind century-old fieldstone walls.
Agriculture plays a major role when balancing such development with the preservation of agricultural land, open space, protection of natural resources, maintaining a quality water supply and sustaining agriculturally-based businesses.
Learn, share, contribute, make a difference!
We encourage you to make a commitment, and partner with us, in promoting agriculture in our communities for yourself, others and for generations to come.
Here are the following links to resources that may assist you in reaching your goals to protect and sustain agricultural enterprises in your area.
Informed and Supportive Communities = Vibrant Farms + Vibrant Food Businesses
Vibrant Farms + Vibrant Food Businesses = Vibrant Communities
Links
- For information on how to incorporate agricultural initiatives into community and regional planning, contact: www.mass.gov/ocd
- For information on the Commonwealth Capital Fund and an application: www.mass.gov/eocd/docs/commonwealthcapitalapplication.doc
- For environmental questions or information contact: www.mass.gov/envir
- For general information on agricultural topics and programs MA Department of Agricultural Resources: www.mass.gov/agr
- For Agricultural Land Preservation: www.mass.gov/agr/landuse/APR/index.htm
- To form a municipal Agricultural Commission or pass a “Right to Farm” by-law: www.mass.gov/agr/agcom/index.htm
- For information about helping farmers keep their families on the land and keep sprawl from consuming their farms, see the Farm Viability Enhancement Program: www.mass.gov/agr/programs/farmviability
- For information about Farmers’ Markets: www.mass.gov/agr/markets/farmermarkets
- For information on Farmstands, The Massachusetts Association of Roadside Stands and Pick Your Own Farms (MARS): www.massfarmstands.com/
- For information on Food Co-ops: www.coopdirectory.org/directory.htm
- For information about Community Supported Farms (CSA): www.biodynamics.com/csa.html
- For information on eating seasonally and locally, the Northeast Regional Food Guide: www.nutrition.cornell.edu/foodguide/archive/index.html
- For information on Agri-Tourism Farms: www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/agritourism_farms.htm
- For buyers/businesses to connect with local growers and producers to access fresh local foods and farm produce www.umassd.edu/semap/b2b/b2b.cfm
- For water quality issues see the Agricultural Enhancement Program: www.mass.gov/agr/programs/aeep
- For additional agricultural resources, the New England Small Farm Institute: www.smallfarm.org
- Massachusetts Municipal Association: www.mma.org
- To find out about local and national farmland related issues: www.farmland.org
- To connect with the Massachusetts Geographic Information System: www.mass.gov/mgis
Resources
Starting a Food Business, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Information on food safety guidelines and regulations for labeling and safe preparation, manufacture, and distribution of food products.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
What they do:
- Enforces the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and related public health laws.
- Jurisdiction over domestic and imported food sold in interested commerce, including shell eggs, bottled water, wine beverages with less than 7 percent alcohol, but not meat and poultry
- Sets labeling standards for food products
- Inspects and approves food products for wholesomeness and safety
- Develops codes and interpretations of regulations for use by business and state regulatory agencies
- Develops Good Manufacturing Practices, HACCP, and other production standards
- May request a recall of unsafe food products
Branches:
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN): Promotes public health by making sure that food is safe, nutritious and wholesome, and cosmetics are safe; food and cosmetics are honestly, accurately and informatively labeled.
Contact:
Northeast Regional Office
158-15 Liberty Avenue
Jamaica, NY 11433-1034
718.662.5416
Fax: 718.662.5434
New England District Office
One Montvale Ave.
Stoneham, MA 02180
78l.596.7717
Fax: 78l.596.7896
Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship (NECFE)
Provides comprehensive assistance to beginning and established food entrepreneurs
Contact:
New York State Food Venture Center
Cornell University/NYSAES
Food Research Lab
630 W. North Street
Geneva, NY 14456
315.787.2273
Email: necfe@nysaes.cornell.edu
MASSACHUSETTS
Department of Public Health
Information and application for food processing and/or distribution at wholesale
Contact:
Department of Public Health
Division of Food and Drugs
Food Protection Program
305 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617.983.6712
Fax: 617.524.8062
Department of Food and Agriculture
Information on farmers markets, agricultural statistics, farm market information
Contact:
Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture www.state.ma.us/dph/fpp/fpp.htm
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
617.626.1700
Bureau of Markets
Assistance for Specialty Food Producers
Contact:
Bonita Oehlke
Program Coordinator
Foreign Trade, Specialty Foods
Bureau of Markets
Division of Ag Development
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
617.626.1753
e-mail: Bonita.Oehlke@state.ma.us
University of Massachusetts – Department of Food Science
Does extension work, may assist with product approval and testing.
Contact:
Chenoweth Lab
University of Massachusetts
Box 31410
Amherst, MA 01003-1410
413.545.2276
Fax: 413.545.1262
Email: maryp@foodsci.umass.edu
Chamber of Commerce
A membership-based organization advocating business advancement, economic growth and job creation for the benefit of the communities we serve in the Southcoast region of Massachusetts
New Bedford Area
Chamber of Commerce
794 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508.999.5231
Fax: 508.999.5237
Email: info@newbedfordchamber.com
Financial Resources for Small Businesses
Small Business Development Centers
Looking to start a food business in our area?
Contact:
Southeastern Massachusetts Regional SBDC
200 Pocasset Street
Fall River, MA 02721
508.673.9783
Fax: 508.674.1929
USDA Rural Development
State Office
451 West Street, Suite 2
Amherst, MA 01002-2999
413.253.4300
Fax: 413.253.4337
RHODE ISLAND
Department of Agriculture
Listing of farmer’s markets, food processors, regulations governing eggs, vegetable sales
Contact:
Rhode Island Department of Agriculture (http://www.health.state.ri.us)
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908-5767
401.222.2781
Fax 401.222.6047
Department of Health
Mainly food service oriented information and regulation. Regulations impact food safety
Contact:
Rhode Island Department of Health
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908
401.222.2231
TTY: 1.800.745.5555
Fax: 401.222.6548
University of Rhode Island – Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Outreach in areas of food safety, seafood
Contact:
College of the Environment and Life Sciences
Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences
106 Ranger Hall
Kingston, RI 02881
401.874.2253
Fax: 401.874.5974
E-mail: mcald@uri.edu
Extension Contacts:
Marjorie Caldwell
University of Rhode Island
Cooperative Extension Service
530 Liberty Lane
West Kingston, RI 02892-1802
401.874.2254
Fax: 401.792.2994
Email: mcald@uriacc.uri.edu
Martha S. Patnoad
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Rhode Island
East Alumni Avenue
Kingston, RI 02881-0804
401.874.2960
Fax: 401.874.4017
Email: mpatnoad@uri.edu
Chamber of Commerce
A membership-based organization advocating business advancement, economic growth and job creation for the benefit of the communities we serve in the Newport County of Rhode Island.
Newport County
Chamber of Commerce
45 Valley Road
Middletown, RI 02842
401.847.1600
Fax: 401.849.5848
Email: info@newportchamber.com
FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Small Business Development Centers
Looking to start a food business in our area?
Contact:
Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RISBDC) (http://www.risbdc.org/)
Johnson & Wales University
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, RI 02903
USDA Rural Development
Warwick Service Center
60 Quaker Lane, Suite 44
Warwick, RI 02886
401.826.0842
Fax: 401.828.6042
Email: david.delisle@ri.usda.gov
PUBLICATIONS of INTEREST
From Kitchen to Market: Selling Your Gourmet Food Specialty, 3rd Edition
This introduction to the specialty food industry, geared more marketing and product positioning than culinary or production expertise, lets you in on the secrets of successfully launching a gourmet food product.
By Stephen F. Hall, Dearborn Trade
Paperback, 240 pages
Upstart Publishing Company, Chicago 800.235.8866
Small-Scale Food Entrepreneurship: A Technical Guide for Food Ventures
Designed to increase awareness of food processing and safety issues. Provides the reader with the basic knowledge and vocabulary necessary to ask questions and understand answers relating to owning and operating a specialty food business.
Paperback, 108 pages
Publications are available from Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship (NECFE) To order this guide contact Judy Anderson 315.787.2273 or email jla2@cornell.edu
The Massachusetts Food Processors Resource Manual
A practical guide for specialty food and start-up food processors
Published by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)
Paperback, 76 pages
Download a copy on-line or contact Bonita Oehlke 617.727.3018 ext.172 or email bonita.oehlke@state.ma.us
Also from MDAR, Consider Selling at Farmers’ Markets (http://www.mass.gov/agr/markets/farmersmarkets/consider_selling.htm)
Venture
A Newsletter for the Small Scale Food Entrepreneur
Published by NECFE, NYS Food Venture Center, Geneva, NY
available electronically as pdf files or by contacting Judy Anderson 315.787.2273 or 888.624.6785, or email jla2@cornell.edu
Food for Thought
A Newsletter of the Massachusetts Specialty Food Association (MSFA)
Published quarterly by MSFA, Groton, MA
Available electronically for members or by contacting Carol Coutrier 508-457-5346 or 800-813-5862 or email ccoutrier@aol.com
Food Entrepreneur
Karen Cantor, Publisher
Post Office Box 10152
Greensboro, NC 27404-0152
910.855.6665
Specialty Food Magazine
Products, trends, and your business in perspective…
Publishing insightful and actionable articles from leading food and business journalists and retail practitioners
Published monthly (except in February, August, and December) by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade