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News RoomMedia AdvisoryJune 11, 2002 Contact: Diane Baedeker Petit, 617-626-1752, Diane.Baedeker@state.ma.us South Coast Group to Receive $60,000 in Federal Funds to Promote Local AgricultureBuy Local Campaign Kicks-off Third YearWHAT: State officials will present a $60,000 check to the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership to kick-off the third year of SEMAP's successful Buy Local campaign promoting local farms and farm products. The funding is part of a federal grant awarded to the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Local strawberries and ice cream will be served to celebrate the start of the Bay State's strawberry harvest and National Dairy Month. WHEN: Wednesday, June 19th, 1:00 pm WHERE: Oakdale Farm, 59 Wheaton Ave., Rehoboth WHO: Massachusetts Commissioner of Food and Agriculture Douglas P. Gillespie, State Representative Philip Travis, SEMAP representatives John Bullard, Irene Winkler and Sue Guiducci, and Oakdale Farm owners Richard and Marie Pray. Invited: Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, Representative Barney Frank, state Senator Jo Anne Sprague and the Rehoboth Board of Selectmen. BACKGROUND: SEMAP is a partnership of organizations formed to help agricultural enterprises achieve economic success. SEMAP partners are growers, not-for-profit, educational, and governmental organizations who provide services that address the vision and purpose of the partnership. Services include business, technical support, education, financial assistance, and outreach. The Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture selected 17 projects proposed by 15 agricultural groups statewide to receive a share of $890,000 in funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's federal agricultural economic assistance package. This Federal assistance is targeted to "specialty crops" which USDA defines as any agricultural crop, except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts and tobacco.
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