HARVESTING RHODE ISLAND - SEASON FOUR

WELCOME TO “HARVESTING RHODE ISLAND”, A TELEVISION SERIES WITH RHODE ISLAND PBS – TV THAT PROMOTES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT AGRICULTURE BY INTERPRETING HOW THIS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT WAY OF LIFE ON THE FARM WILL MANAGE TO SURVIVE.  THE TELEVISION SERIES  EXPLORES HOW TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS ON THE FARM CAN BE CREATIVELY MAINTAINED AND BECOME MORE OF A DYNAMIC MARKETPLACE.  INTRODUCING THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE FARMERS OF RHODE ISLAND  PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO THE COMPLEX BUT EASILY TAKEN-FOR-GRANTED PROCESS BEHIND PRODUCTS THEY CONSUME. 

THE SHOW SHARES THE CENTRAL STORY OF HOW THE FARMERS HAVE RESPONDED TO CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND MARKETS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SUCCEED AS A BUSINESS.  GROWERS LEARNED HOW TO BALANCE 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 MARKETS BEGAN TO SHRINK DUE TO LARGE RETAILERS’ AND NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. AS A RESULT FARMERS 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" TAKES 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 2020

EXECUTIVE  PRODUCER              DIRECTOR / EDITOR                   DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY                      RHODE ISLAND PBS

LOCATIONS:

DAME FARM AND ORCHARD

94 Brown Ave. Johnston, RI Crops:Vegetables, corn, sunflowers,

Owners: Darleen, James, & Son Justin Dame(6th. generation) assorted flowers, blueberries, plants.

Original Location 1890 Farm store on location.

BARDEN FAMILY ORCHARD

Location: 56 Elmdale Rd., North Scituate, RI Crops: Large assortment of apples, peaches,

Owners: Gil and Sandy Barden blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, sweetcorn,

Established: 1930 purchased by parents. Purchased by Gil in 1999. pumpkins, & squash.

Acres: 30 plus. Store on location, farmers markets.

BIG TRAIN FARM

1012 SNAKE HILL RD., NORTH SCITUATE, RI CERTIFIED ORGANIC GROWING 11 MONTHS/YEAR

OWNER: JOHN KENNY CROPS: 40 VARIETIES OF ANNUALS INCLUDING

ESTABLISHED: ORIGINAL LOCATION 2008-2017 CURRENT 2018 STRAWBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES.

LARGE CSA MEMBERSHIP AND WHOLESALE.

JASWELLS FARM

50 SWAN ROAD, SMITHFIELD, RI ACRES: 100 & LEASING 50 ACRES.

OWNERS: ALLISON AND CHRIS JASWELL 4TH. GENERATION CROPS: LARGE ASSORTMENT OF APPLES,

ESTABLISHED: ORIGINAL LEASE WITH GRANDFATHER 1899 BLUEBERRIES, CORN, PUMPKINS, VARIETY OF

MIGRATED FROM NAPLES, ITALY. VEGETABLES, GOURMET APPLES, & CIDER.

LARGE RETAIL STORE WITH BAKERY.

NICKEL CREEK VINEYARDS

12 KING RD., FOSTER, RI CROP: VINEYARD, APPROX. 2000 CASES YEAR.

OWNERS: SHERRI AND STEVE O’CONNOR (3RD. GENERATION) WHITE AND RED VARIETIES OF WINE.

ESTABLISHED: 2008 TEN ACRES. LARGE TASTING ROOM AND SALES.

CENTRAL NURSERY

LOCATION: VICTORY HIGHWAY, CHEPACHET, RI CROPS: LARGE ASSORTMENT OF

OWNER: JIM PAGLIARINI (3RD. GENERATION) BROTHERS PAUL AND STEVE TREES SMALL BUSHES, AND

ESTABLISHED: GRANDFATHER STARTED IN 1936, LANDSCAPE READY MATERIALS.

ADDITIONAL LOCATION 1155 ATWOOD AVE, JOHNSTON, RI

ANGELL FARM

LOCATION: 15 LANTERN ROAD, LINCOLN,RI CROPS: TOMATOES, ONIONS, BEETS, CABBAGE,

OWNER: JOHN GUISE LETTUCE, CUCUMBERS, TURNIPS, RADISH, ETC.

ESTABLISHED: 2000 SELLS AT FARMERS MARKETS & HAS A CSA.

OUR KIDS FARM

LOCATION: 555 GARDNER RD., EXETER, RI CROPS: HYDROPONIC VEGETABLES, ANNUALS,BASKETS.

OWNERS: LOREN AND GINA THURN FARM STORE ON LOCATION, CSA MEMBERSHIPS.

ESTABLISHED: 2007 5 ACRES GROWS YEAR ROUND WITH 7 GREENHOUSES.

LITTLE RIVER FARM

LOCATION: WILLIAM REYNOLDS RD. CROPS: LARGE ASSORTMENT OF VEGETABLES,

LOOK FOR FARM SIGN HERBS AND MICRO GREENS.

OWNERS: BOB PAYNE & CAMILLE ABDEL - NABI GROW YEAR ROUND IN CAT TUNNELS, CERTIFIED

ESTABLISHED: 2013 ORGANIC AND NO TILL FARMING. FARMERS MARKETS.

OLD SAWMILL FARM

LOCATION: RT. 102, 2473 VICTORY HWY., COVENTRY, RI CROPS: ASSORTMENT OF VEGETABLES. 50 VARIETIES

OWNERS: LAYREN BREENE & ZACH BAIN OF HEIRLOOM TOMATOES & PEPPERS, OUTDOOR

ESTABLISHED: 2017 FARMING 4 ACRES. 4 GREENHOUSES PLANTS & BASKETS. 10 VARIETIES OF HOT PEPPERS.

FARM STORE ON LOCATION WITH VARIETY OF PRODUCTS.

FOUR TOWN FARM

LOCATION:90 GEORGE STREET, SEEKONK, MA. CROPS: ASSORTED VEGETABLES, CORN, PEACHES.

OWNERS: CHRIS, BRAD & WAYLIN CLEGG. (5TH. GENERATION) MASSIVE FARM STORE ON LOCATION.

ESTABLISHED: 1943 OWN 75 ACRES & FARM 200 ACRES. ASSORTED OUTDOOR PLANTS & DECORATIONS.

SOWAMS CIDER WORKS COMPANY / LONG LANE ORCHARD

LOCATION: 98 CHILD STREET, WARREN, RI (CIDER STORE) ORCHARD: OVER 40 VARIETIES OF APPLES

OWNER: SPENCER MORRIS ( 3RD. GENERATION) WITH A LARGE VARIETY OF SPECIALTY CIDER

ESTABLISHED: 2002 CIDER TASTING ROOM APPLE