Edible flowers on display at Wainer Family Farm
Seth Garfield, Chuttyhunk Shellfish Farms and President of Massachusetts Aquaculture Association (MAA), have an update on MAA’s legislative priorities.
Karen Schwalbe and SEMAP hosted breakfast at the Westport Rivers Winery
The group gathers for a photo with our hosts, Kristin and Kerrian Fennelly of Westport Sea Farms (center).
Chris Leonard, Westport Harbor Master, discusses the challenges municipalities encounter in supporting local fishermen, lobster fisherman, and oyster farmers.
The day wrapped up inside the Westport Rivers Winery barn for a pig roast and cheese tasting (cheese supplied by Shy Brothers Dairy Farm).
Attendees enjoyed lunch and an oyster tasting while listening to a program on the fastest growing sector of agriculture: aquaculture!
While inside the Wainer greenhouses attendees were able to sample edible flowers and herbs.
Attendees arrive at Westport Point for a visit to Westport Sea Farms oyster tasting bar.
Legislators and staff took a walk through the Wainer Family Farm vegetable field.
(L-R) Allie Wainer-Straus, Rep. Chris Markey, Rep. Chris Hendricks, and Commissioner John Lebeaux discuss some of the challenges related to agriculture.
(L-R) Commissioner John Lebeaux, Andy Burnes, Rep. Paul Schmid, and Senator Michael Rodrigues
The Westport Food Tour began with a stop at Meatworks and a welcome by Andy Burnes.
Sean Bowen, MDAR Aquaculture Coordinator, was on hand to answer questions about what the state is doing to expand aquaculture in Massachusetts.
(L-R) Rep. David LeBoeuf, Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, Rep. Steven Howitt, Rep. Daniel Donahue, Rep. Hannah Kane, Commissioner John Lebeaux, Rep. Norman Orrall, Rep. Paul Schmid, and Rep. Chris Markey
Beach plum oysters were one of four types available at Westport Sea Farms, all locally grown and harvested.
Small seedlings begin to grow in the greenhouses at Wainer and Sons farm.
At Wainer Family Farm, legislators learned about the innovative uses of reflective plastic wrap as a natural pesticide. The reflective nature of the plastic makes it difficult for pests to locate the vegetable or plant requiring less chemical pesticides to be used.
Darrin Mendes gives background on the retail side of Meatworks and the local meat that is sold.
Westport Food Tour attendees take a look inside Meatworks.
Wainer and Sons offered a sampling of some of the products for sale in their New Bedford retail store.
Attendees tried these edible flowers, one of the many specialty products produced by Wainer and Sons.