Two organizations that promote farming in Connecticut are honoring state Representative Bryan Hurlburt, who represents Ashford, Tolland and Willington in the General Assembly, for authoring the new "Farms, Food & Jobs" law that encourages the production and sale of more Connecticut-grown food.
The Connecticut Farm Bureau recently honored Hurlburt as a "Friend of Connecticut Agriculture" during their annual meeting. Hurlburt was also recognized by the Connecticut Poultry Association for his work to help poultry farmers create direct markets.
The new Farms, Food & Jobs law allows poultry producers (chicken and turkey farms) to sell directly to consumers, restaurants and hotels, expands the definition of what constitutes a farmers market, redirects federally collected milk fees to the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board for the purpose of promoting dairy farms and milk consumption, and lets farmers sell 'acidified' food products they produce such as pickles and salsa directly from their farms or at farmers' markets.
"It is not only important to encourage and support a healthy local food supply, but we can't forget that farming in Connecticut is a multi-billion dollar industry that sustains thousands of jobs," said Hurlburt, who serves as Vice-chair of the Environment Committee. "Nothing says it better than the American Farmland Trust slogan 'No Farms, No Food'."
