HARVESTING RHODE ISLAND - SEASON THREE
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 2019
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER DIRECTOR / EDITOR DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY RHODE ISLAND PBS
LOCATIONS:
WRIGHTS DAIRY FARM
Location: 200 Woonsocket Hill Rd. N. Smithfield, RI 02896 Bakery: Paul Dulude
Owner: Elizabeth Dulude, Ellen Puccetti, 5th generation Dairy: Cathryn Puccetti, 6th. generation
Farmed by Steve Puccetti, Clayton Wright (5th generation) Retail bakery store on location. 100 - 120 cows
Established: Circa 1800's. Migration: Canada Crops: Hay & corn for cows
EMMA ACRES
Location: 143 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822 Products: Dairy Farm
Owners: Edwin and Cynthia Prise, daughters Maggie & Alex 70 cows Mostly Jersey & some Holsteins
Established: 1990
BLACKBIRD FARM
Location: 122 Limerock Rd. Smithfield, RI 02917 Products: Scotland 100% Black Angus Beef &
Owner: Ann Marie Bouthillette, 2nd. generation English 100% Berkshire pigs
Son - Brandan, wife - Sarah & Assistant - Kevin Hunband
Established: 1979 Retail Store
NARROW LANE ORCHARD
Location: 213 Narrow Lane, North Kingstown, RI 02852 Products: Apples, Peaches, Blueberries,
Owners: Sharon and Stephen Grenier and Blackberries. Ten acres/3500 trees.
Established: 2004 Retail shop on location.
BRANDON FAMILY FARM Crops: Thirty-five varieties of vegetables and fruit,
Location: 592 Fairground Rd. West Kingston, RI cantaloupes, watermelon, tomatoes, etc.
Owner: Albert Brandon
Certified Organic
Established: 1st. Generation Farmer
JOHN LEYDEN Crops: Ten varieties of Christmas trees.
Location: 179 Plain Meeting House Rd. West Greenwich, RI Largest tree farm in southern New England.
Owner: John Leyden - 3rd. generation. Solar Farm, Seasonal entertainment on farm.
Established: 197280 acres of growing, 120 acres total
MORRIS FARM Crops: Vegetables, herbs and flowers. Famous for
Location: 2779 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI sweet corn and tomatoes.
Owner: John Morris - 3rd. generation. Co-worker Paul Sullivan. Farm stand on location.
Established: 1915 42 Acres in Warwick, 140 acres in Exeter.
SANCTUARY HERBS of PROVIDENCE Crops: A large variety of herbs, some with
Location: Urban Edge Farm, 35 Pipin Orchard Rd. Cranston, RI health benefits. Herbs are dried and made
Owners: Christina Dedora and Eliza Sutton into local herbal teas.
Established: 2016
GARMAN FARM Crops: Growing garlic, beans, long pie
Location: 20-56 Elizabeth Ln. Middletown, RI pumpkins, beans, tomatoes, fresh flowers, etc.
Owners: Jim and Michele Garman
Established: 20115.6 acres
YOUNG FARM Crops: Potatoes, butternut squash, sweetcorn, and
Location: 260 W Main Rd. Little Compton, RI assorted vegetables. Orchard with apples,
Owners: Tyler and Karla Young peaches, nectarines, cherries, strawberries.
Established: 1997 Total 350 acres Large assortment of flowers and plants.
Farm stand on location.
SWEET BERRY FARM Crops: Famous for large assortment of berries.
Location: 915 Mitchell’s Lane Middletown, RI Sunflowers, corn, tomatoes. Apple orchard,
Owners: Jan and Michelle Eckhart and Christmas trees. Large farm retail
Established: 1996 100 acres and farming 80. building with kitchen. Weddings and concerts
on location.
LITTLE STATE FLOWERS Crops: Over 120 varieties of flowers.
Portsmouth, RI Organic farm, non - certified.
Owner: Anna Jane Kocon Flowers for weddings and events.
Established: 2014 1st. generation farmer 5 acres
VERDE VINEYARDS
Location: Rt. 6 and Rt. 101 Hopkins Ave. off Hartford Ave. Johnston, RI Crops: Vineyard with 8 varieties of
Owner: Jim Verde both red and white wine.
Established: 2013 1st. generation farmer Beautiful tasting room on
Vineyard produces electricity from PV cells and heat and cool air vineyard.
from geo-thermal energy.
ELWOOD ORCHARD Crops: Apple Orchard with additional fruit trees
Location: 58 Snake Hill Road North Scituate, RI 02857 including Asian and European pears.
Owners: Jean and Al Fuoroli Selection of vegetables, flowers, plants,
Established: 1979 13 acres with 3 farmed. and honey. Partial organic.
DIAMOND HILL VINEYARDS Crops: Vineyard growing Pinot noir.
Location: 3145 Diamond Hill Rd. Rt. 114 Cumberland, RI Producing Table wines: Fruit
Owners: Claire Berntson & Peter Allen: Son 2nd. generation wines: cranberry apple, spiced apple,
Chantelle: daughter & husband Stephen Rogers 2nd. generation cherry, blackberry, blueberry.
Established: 1976 34 acres Bio dynamic farm Tasting room & shop on location.
PHANTOM FARM Crops: Apple orchard. grows blueberries,
Location: 2920 Diamond Hill Rd. Cumberland, RI Rt. 114 mums, pumpkins, bubble gum plums.
Owner: Kerri Stenovitch Produces apple cider. Twenty
Established: 1930 purchased by Kerri in 2012 6 acres with varieties of apples. Large country store
tore over 1000 trees. on location selling products with coffee shop.
Newport Vineyards Crops: Vineyard with large tasting room
Location: 909 E Main Rd. Middletown, RI 02842 for wine. Produces Wild Coyote
Owners: John and Paul Nunes. Hard Apple Cider. Tap Root
Established: First planting 1977 and under Nunes ownership in 1995. Brewing Co. with tasting room.
Over 100 acres. Two restaurants and a large store
with products. Weddings and events on location.
A HARVESTING RHODE ISALND SPECIAL PRODUCTION
RHODE ISLAND FISHING INDUSTRY
PIER NINE IN NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND
POINT JUDITH RHODE ISLAND
