Season One — ALEXANDER CASERTA

HARVESTING CONNECTICUT - SEASON ONE

WELCOME TO “HARVESTING CONNECTICUT”, A TELEVISION SERIES WITH CONNECTICUT PUBLIC 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 CONNECTICUT 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 CONNECTICUT ARE UNAWARE OF THE LOCATIONS AND VARIETY OF CROPS THAT ARE GROWN IN THE STATE AND WHERE TO PURCHASE THEM. "HARVESTING CONNECTICUT" 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 CONNECTICUT.

ALEX CASERTA SOREN SORRENSEN JASON ROSSI PREMIERS SUMMER 2020

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / HOST DIRECTOR / EDITOR DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TV

HOLMBERG ORCHARDS Acres: 150 with 60 in production.

LOCATION: 12 Orchard Lane, Gales Ferry, Ct. Crops: Orchard growing apples, peaches, pears,

Owners: Amy and Russell Holmberg 4th. generation grape vineyard, lavender field, tomatoes, squash,

Established: Original farm 1920’s. pumpkins, and hard apple cider.

Large farm stand and tasting room.

LAPSLEY ORCHARD Acres: 200 acres under Development Rights 1986

Location: Rt. 169, Pomfret, Ct. Crops: Large orchard growing apples, peaches, nectarines,

Owners: John and Patti Wolcheski. pears, squash, pumpkins, eggplant, tomatoes, and much

Established: 1984 began leasing from Lapsley family. more. 130 CSA members and farm stand on location.

ELM FARM Products: Diary farm. Raise Beef and pork for sale.

Location: 324 Woodstock Rd., Woodstock, Ct. Crops: Corn. No Til Farming.

Owners: Mat and Chrissy Peckham ( 6th. generation) Farm store down the road with local products including

Established: 1885 Peckham’s purchased farm. a selection of cheeses, charcuterie products, homemade

Acres: 200 ice cream, and fresh milk in glass bottles.

STONINGTON VINYARD Land zoned for farming only.

Location: 523 Taugwonk Rd., Stonington, CT. Products: Six types of wine.

Owner: Happy Smith. Vineyard Manager: Mike Mc Andrew Large tasting room with outdoor deck.

Established: Land purchased in 1986. Tours and events. Member Ct. Wine Trail.

JONATHAN EDWARDS WINERY Acres: 50 with 20 acres of grapes.

Location: 74 Chester Main rd., North Stonington, Ct. European varietals. Cutting edge equipment called

Owner: Jonathan Edward Agrotherm. (Applies heat to vines in winter).

Established: 2000 Large tasting room and events. Member of Ct. Wine Trail.