News Room - News Release
Western Massachusetts Consumers Reap the Benefits
of Pioneering Berry Growers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 17, 2001

CONTACT: Diane Baedeker Petit, 617-626-1752, Diane.Baedeker@state.ma.us

Western Massachusetts consumers are reaping the benefits of the work of pioneering area berry growers, in the form of fresh berries in winter, delicious jams and pies, and fine wines, not to mention open space protected through sound growing practices and farmland protection programs.

A group of state and local officials and agriculture professionals visited several local farms today to see their work first-hand and recognize the farmers' efforts. State agriculture commissioner Jonathan L. Healy presented the farm owners with certificates of recognition for their agricultural innovation and their participation in the "Be a Local Hero" program created by Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA).

The farms visited - Hamilton Orchards in New Salem, Bird Haven Blueberry Farm in Southampton, and Kelso Homestead Farm/Chester Hill Winery in Chester - are employing innovative production, marketing and value-added strategies to provide consumers with high-quality locally-produced products throughout the year.

Hamilton Orchards owners Bill and Barbara Hamilton, early pioneers in direct farm marketing, have now pioneered the off-season greenhouse production of raspberries in New England to capture a lucrative market window for locally produced fruit. The project has received assistance from UMass Extension staff and funding support from the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture's Agro-Environmental Technology Program.

Hamilton Orchards has always been on the forefront of innovative marketing, selling most of their products right off the farm. Hamilton Orchards was one of the first orchards to offer pick-your-own apples, as far back as 1949. They built a large farmstand in 1976 and expanded their product lines to include baked goods. Later on, farmers markets became part of their marketing mix. They continue their string of innovative marketing up to this day by experimenting with growing fresh raspberries in the middle of winter.

CISA's 'Local Hero' campaign has helped the Hamiltons locate market outlets for their raspberries, which ripen in the late winter and early spring when the only competition is high-priced fruit from Chile and Mexico. The Hamiltons are participants in the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program.

Bird Haven Blueberry Farm owners John and Silvija Pipiras have been pioneers in the areas of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), value-added processing of their fruit, and direct marketing. They care for over 1,300 highbush blueberry plants, peach trees, Asian pear trees, raspberries and flowers on their nine acre farm.

Bird Haven Blueberry Farm has served as a cooperating grower site for the UMass Extension IPM program in the development of blueberry IPM methods. This work was done in cooperation with Cornell University and resulted in comprehensive recommendations for the identification and holistic management of blueberry pests in New England.

The Pipiras' recognize the advantage of adding value to their products and selling directly to consumers. Bird Haven Blueberry Farm includes a commercial kitchen where their berries, peaches and pears are transformed into jams, jellies, and pies. They sell directly to consumers through their retail stand. Customers can also pick their own blueberries. Through the state's Farm Viability Enhancement Program, the Pipiras' have expanded their farmstand and marketing activities, while protecting their farmland from development.

Kelso Homestead Farm and Chester Hill Winery have joined forces to produce a unique local product: blueberry wine. Chester Hill Winery produces blueberry wine with berries grown and picked by hand at the nearby Kelso Homestead Farm. Blueberry wine can be made sweet or dry, still or effervescent, light or strong. Some of the wine is made in a nouveau style to accentuate the fruitiness of the wine. This product is picked in July and is sold in November. The rest of the vintage is reserved for other wine styles and is made into the port or reserve style wines.

The Kelso Homestead, a recognized Massachusetts Century Farm, dates back in the family to 1779. Jim and Harriet Gilman raise six acres of blueberries. Much of their crop is sold to the Chester Hill Winery and they also offer pick-your-own to their customers. Kelso Homestead served as a cooperating grower site for the UMass Extension IPM program in developing blueberry IPM methods.

Commissioner Healy was joined by CISA Marketing Director Michael Abbate and small fruit specialist Sonia Schloemann of UMass Extension. CISA's mission is to help farming thrive in western Massachusetts. Founded in 1994, CISA accomplishes this by working with farmers, consumers, educators and researchers to strengthen and promote local agriculture.