HARVESTING RHODE ISLAND - SEASON TWO
“HARVESTING RHODE ISLAND” IS A TELEVISION SERIES WITH RHODE ISLAND PBS – TV AND WILL PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS THROUGH FOLK LIFE STUDIES BY INTERPRETING HOW THIS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT WAY OF LIFE ON THE FARM WILL MANAGE TO SURVIVE. THE PILOT WILL EXPLORE HOW TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS CAN BE CREATIVELY MAINTAINED AND BECOME MORE OF A DYNAMIC MARKETPLACE. INTRODUCING THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE FARMERS OF RHODE ISLAND WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO THE COMPLEX BUT EASILY TAKEN-FOR-GRANTED PROCESS BEHIND PRODUCTS THEY CONSUME.
IT WILL TELL THE CENTRAL STORY OF HOW THE FARMERS HAVE RESPONDED TO CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND MARKETS SO THAT THEY CANCONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS. GROWERS HAVE HAD TO BALANCE THE TRADITIONAL APPROACHES THAT WERE HANDED DOWN TO THEM WITH THE VARIABLE REALITIES OF TODAY’S BUSINESS CLIMATE. IN THE LATTER PART OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY LOCAL WHOLESALE MARKETSBEGAN TO SHRINK DUE TO LARGE RETAILERS’ AND NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. AS A RESULT GROWERS INCREASED THEIR DIRECT MARKETING THROUGH ON-SITE RETAIL STANDS, PICK YOUR OWN PROGRAMS, FARMERS MARKETS AND SELLING THROUGH FARM FRESH TO LOCAL RETAILERS. THIS DIRECT APPROACH HAS IN TURN STIMULATED DIVERSIFICATION TO SATISFY THE ECLECTIC TASTES OF INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED CONSUMERS. . A LARGE NUMBER OF CONSUMERS IN RHODE ISLAND ARE UNAWARE OF THE LOCATIONS AND VARIETY OF CROPS THAT ARE GROWN IN THE STATE AND WHERE TO PURCHASE THEM. "HARVESTING RHODE ISLAND" WILL RING THEM ON LOCATION SO THEY CAN SEE THE FARMS AND LISTEN TO THE FARMER'S STORIES.
THE EDUCATED CONSUMER WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE FARMS IN RHODE ISLAND.
ALEX CASERTA SOREN SORRENSEN JASON ROSSI PREMIERS SUMMER 2017
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER DIRECTOR / EDITOR DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY RHODE ISLAND PBS
“Beef, Cows, Cheese”
“Microgreens & Hydroponics”
“Sheep & Cattle”
“Flowers & Tomatoes”
"Sod Farms & Christmas Trees"
“Young Farmer/Seasoned Farmer”
“Hops & Vines”
“Farm Stand & Historic Topiary”
“Oysters, Mussels, Quahogs”
“Bees & Flowers”
“Historic Farms”
LOCATIONS:
SUNSET FARM
Location: 505 Point Judith Road, Narragansett, RI 02882 Products: Tomatoes, sweetcorn, squash, peppers
Owner: Town of Narragansett Circa 1989-90 herbs, eggplant, pumpkins, potatoes strawberries.
Farmed by Jeff and Ethan Farrell / 5th & 6th. generation Retail & wholesale black angus beef on location.
Established: Circa late 1800's.
PEZZA FARM
Location: 2279 Plainfield Pike, Johnston, RI 02919 Products: Flowers, plants, vegetables,
Owners: Doreen & Mike Pezza 2nd. generation, daughter & son 3rd. generation pumpkins, herbs, fresh eggs, petting zoo.
Established: 1947
Migrated: Father from Italy
HOPKINS SOUTHDOWN
Location: 1125 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI Product: Sheep, brood ewe & coming yearling ewe.
Owners: Debbie & Don Hopkins Retail shop on location for the purchase of fresh meat.
Established: 1983
WINDMIST FARM
Location: 71 Weeden Lane, Jamestown, RI Products: Sheep, cattle, vegetables, honey.
Owners: Martha & George Neal Fresh meat and products sold at farm.
Established: 1960 History of farm from 1678 when town was incorporated
Farmed by eight different families over the years
SODCO FARM
Location: 264 Exeter Road, North Kingston, RI 02877 Products: Corn, Harmony brand
Owner: Linda Tucker 3rd. generation and Black Beauty sod.
Established: 1950
Migrated: Grandfather from Norway
PACHET BROOK TREE FARM
Location: 4484 Main Road, Tiverton, RI Eleven varieties of Christmas trees. Choose and cut
Owners: Jean and Jay Bento farm and tagging. Trees travel as far as Washington, DC
Established: 1973 Farmland dates back to late 1600"s. and some as high as twenty feet and hand trimmed.
DON JOSLIN BEEKEEPER
Location: 535 Main Street, Hopkinton, RI Joslin Hill Apiary: Honey can be
Owner: Don Joslin purchased as various locations.
Established: 2010 Teaches courses on bee keeping.
Migrated: Family came over from England many generations ago History: Honey dates back to the
and worked as farmers. Egyptians and never goes bad.
ROBIN HOLLOW FARM
Location: 1057 Gilbert Stuart Road, Saunderstown,RI Over 70 different varieties of flowers.
Owners: Polly and Mike Hutchison Sell at farmers markets. Flowers for
Established: 2005 weddings.
WICKET TULIPS
Location: 90 Brown Avenue, Johnston, RI Pick your own tulip farm. 250,000 bulbs planted.
Owners: Keriann and Jeroen Koeman Bulbs can be purchased.
Established: 2015
Migrated: Jeroen is from Holland
TILTED BARN
Location: 1 Hemsley Place, Exeter, RI Growing hops and Christmas trees.
Owner: Matt Richardson Hops are used to brew on location.
Established: 2014 Brewery opened. Crafted beer can be purchased in tasting rom.
NEWPORT VINEYARDS
Location: 909 Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842 Active vineyard with tasting room, wine shop,
Owners: John and Paul Nunes two indoor restaurants and a cafeteria. Serving
Established: 1995 outdoors in good weather.
Farm dates back to 1701 as Bailey Farm. Purchased Perry Farm for growing
in addition. Listed on National Historic Register
ALLEN HARBOR OYSTERS
Location: 13 Lakeview Avenue, Johnston, RI Oyster farm in the west bay of North Kingston.
Owner: Steve Dipetrillo and Andrew Smiley. Growing Virginia Oysters. Company conducts research
Established: 2007 on the development of an oyster reef in Narragansett
Ethnic Heritage: Italian bay.
AMERICAN MUSSEL HARVESTERS / SALT WATER FARMS LLC.
Location: 165 Tidal Drive, North Kingston, RI 02852 Ships across country as a fresh restaurant ready
Owner: Greg Silkes 2nd. generation. Works with two brothers. product. Company conducts research on deep water
Established: 1980 growing of mussels and oysters in Narragansett Bay.
Migrated: Grandparents from Hungry & Norway.
FARMING TURTLES
Location: 174 South Road, Exeter, RI 0282 Large assortment of micro greens growing in
Owner: Lori Roberts greenhouses. Sells products to distributors and
Established: 2006 can be found in local markets.
ACOPIA HARVEST
Location: 712 Brood Street, Central Falls, RI 02863 Hydroponic growing with 30,000 plants.
Owner: Ameth Alzate Developed a Green Machine for growing.
Established: 2012 Green Machine School Program
Teacher training program in 60 schools in 6 states.
MANFREDI FARMS
Location: 77 Dunn's Corner Road, Westerly, RI 139 Acres. 1938-54 grew potatoes, raised pigs, chickens,
Owner: Richard Manfredi and dairy cows. 1954-64 grew potatoes. Current products
Established: 1938 land purchased by grandfather and father. include corn, tomatoes, eggs. Experiments with varieties
Migrated: Father came from Italy of tomatoes.
COLE WALKER FARM
Location: 261 Main Road, Little Compton, RI Walkers Farm Stand selling a variety of fresh products
Owner: Cole Walker and includes tomatoes, corn, squash, lettuce and flowers.
Established: 1964
Migrated: Grandfather and father farmers from Scotland.
GREEN ANIMALS/THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY
Location: 380 Cory's Lane, Portsmouth, RI 0287 Vegetable and herb gardens, flowers
Owner: Preservation Society of Newport and orchard trees with victorian house
History: Country estate purchased in 1872. Left to Preservation Society in 1972. overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Oldest topiary garden in the United States with over 80 topiaries. Edible School Yard program for children.
LUCKYFOOT RANCH
Location: 1337 Gilbert Stuart Road, North Kingstown, RI Products include tomatoes, cherry peppers,
Owner: Matt Thibodeaux eggplant, squash, string beans, cucumbers,
Established: 2009 flat beans, garlic, beets, kale, cabbage,
History: Farm started by Grandfather & father raising cattle & rabbits. watermelon and cantaloupe. Farmers markets.
CONFREDA FARMS
Location: 2150 Scituate Avenue, Hope, RI 02831 Total of over 400 acres. Signature crop hybrid corn,
Owner: Vincent Confreda 3rd. generation. tomatoes, Rose Bianca eggplant, flowers, plants, herbs,
Father was 2nd. generation and sons are 4th. assorted vegetables and christmas trees in winter. Large
Migrated: Grandparents came from Italy where they farmed. retail shop and greenhouses.
CARPENTERS FARM
Location: 520 Matunuck Beach Road, South Kingstown, RI Early 1900's harvested potatoes and corn. Current
Owners: Ben and Mary Carpenter4th. generation harvest includes garden vegetables and corn. Average
Cody works on farm as 5th. generation. 80 head of cattle, and pigs, chickens, and fresh turkeys
Established: Over 100 years old. for the holidays. Retail stand sells fresh beef.
SIMMONS FARM
Location: 1942 West Main road, Middletown, RI Beef, cows,lamb, gat, chickens, ducks, pigs, and vegetables.
Owners: Karla and Brian Simmons 5th. generation. Retail shop sells beef. Karla makes 8 varieties of goat cheese.
Established: Mr. Coggeshall came to RI with Roger Williams Fresh yoghurt and butter. Petting zoo on location.
in 1632. Coggeshall family married into Simmon's family & in
1878 became Simmons farm.
