(Continued from Pag* A 1) Bunt, R-Montgomery County, who is chairman of the committee, has “assured” her that he will sche dule the bill for a vote on March 7. “An alliance between the Pen nsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Department of Agriculture would provide for the operation of farmers’ markets at turnpike ser vice areas, tollbooth areas and other areas along the turnpike that ate deemed safe,” she said in a recent news release. “Pennsylvania has a rich agri cultural history. Along with this history comes an abundance of fresh produce sold at farmers’ markets around the commonwealth. “When I first introduced this legislation last session, it served as a catalyst to begin the dialogue between the Agriculture Depart ment and the Pennsylvania Turn pike Commission. As a result, pilot-project markets are being developed, one at the Allentown Service Plaza in Lehigh County, and the other one at the Sideling Hill Service Plaza in Fulton County. “I’m hopeful my legislation will be enacted this session to assure the continuity of support for this program, regardless of any changes in administrations in Harrisburg.” Miller cited a potentially large direct market for Pennsylvania’s producers. At the Allentown Ser Kingston (Luzerne Co.) —Do • started in 1983 to recognize the you take pride in maintaining your hard work and dedication of the dairy farm? Does your dairy farm farmers who maintain attractive project an attractive, wholesome farms. The purpose of the program image to consumers? If so, the is to instill a greater sense of confi bairy Of Distinction Program of dence in the wholesomeness of York, New Jersey and Penn- dairy products, and increase their \ylvania will consider your farm sales. for the program’s annual recogni- Farms that apply are judged on tion awards. the roadside appearance of build- The Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program was first Application PURPOSE OF PROGRAM Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages public support for the dairy industry. The award gives recognition to the daily farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead. ELIGIBILITY All Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are invited to make application for the award. Dairies receiving the 10 highest scores in each of the 91 districts will receive an 18” x 24” Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed in front of their farm. Your Name Mailing Address Phone Number ( Cooperative or Handler (where you *ip your Miiw (Your Handler will he conuaed lo ifpm you milk quiUy) Location (dnvini duecUona for jud|ii« Bun) County (where your fan* ■ locaed) I hereby apply to the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Committee to have my dairy scored in accordance with the rules of the program for the purpose of obtaining a Dairy of Distinction sign to be displayed on my premises. (No producer will be charged for scoring or sign expense.) Signature of OwnerfOpentor Return application by April IS. New York dairies send to Carol Weddle, New York Holstein Association, 957 Mitchell Street, P.O. Box 190, Ithaca, NY 14851; Pennsylvania dairies send to Paul Nichols, AD ADC, Tower Business Building, 239 Schuyler Avc., Kingston, PA 18704; New Jersey dairies send to August Knispel, R.D. 1, Box 325, Pittstown, NJ 00867. Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program Inc. Turnpike Farm vice Plaza, more than 10 million cars stop at annually. “A whole new consumer market could be created by providing these travelers with easy and safe access to Pennsylvania fanners’ produce,” she said. Her legislative concept is to cre ate a permit and licensing system that would be implemented at the discretion of the state Department of Agriculture. Permits to operate a turnpike farmers’ market would be awarded on either a daily or sea sonal basis. “Providing a location to show case and promote the variety and quality of commonwealth food and agricultural products to turnpike travelers is an effective way to increase much-needed revenue for Pennsylvania farmers,” she said. In the meantime, the pilot prog ram stinted last year is developing, and pretty much along the lines intended in the legislation prop osed by Rep. Miller. Sharon Fulginiti, with the Com modity Promotion Division of PDA’s Buruea of Marketing Deve lopment, is in charge of coordinat ing the pilot program and said that the Turnpike Commission is cur rently examining designs of a “pavillion” type structure that would be used to house the road-, side markets. The Sideling Hill site already has a proposed opening date of May 29, which is Memorial Day. Producers already involved in 1995 Dairy Of Distinction Farms Sought ings, grounds, and surroundings, since this is what our dairy product APPLICATION Farm Name Date Market Bill Re-Introduced the Sideling Hill Farmers’ Market have come up with a proposed set of bylaws to govern the operations, tentatively restricted to Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday holidays. Presumably, those days of oper ation have been proposed because they coincide with peaks in tour ism travel. While applications for new ven dors are still being developed, there is still the opportunity for people to become involved. Pulgi niti said this week that she was waiting for mote applications to market at the Sideling Hill location to come in, in response to phone calls from producers interested in marketing there. She also said that the Turnpike Commission is currently in the process of drafting a design for a building, which is dependent on the number of vendors that are going to be able to market there. (In the proposed legislation, there is no requirement for a build ing to be constructed, that is being done by the Turnpike Commission itself.) Fulginiti said that small produc ers are as welcome to participate as are relatively large producers “from a co-op to a very small farm,” she said. With respect to the Sideling Hill site, Fulginiti said there has been interest from a maple-products producer, vegetable and fruit pro ducers, honey producers, flowers. consumers observe as they drive by. The cleanliness of the barn yard, feed areas and manure man agement are other aspects of the farm operation taken into consider ation. Roadside judging is con ducted during the month of May. Former winners of past years are also rejudged to ensure they con tinue to meet the standards of excellence. To qualify for consideration, you must be actively dairy fanning and shipping milk. Applications are available from your state secre tary, Pennsylvania: Paul Nichols, American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., 239 Schuyler Avenue, Box 5 , Kingston, Pa. 18704, (717) 283-2204. New York: Carol Weddle, N.Y. Hol stein Association, 957 Mitchell Street, Ithaca N.Y. 14851, (607) 273-7591, or New Jersey: August Knispel, R.D. 1, Box 325, Pittstown, New Jersey 08867, (201) 735-4989. All applications muse be completed and returned by April 15th, 1995. The Dairy of Distinction pro gram is financed in Pennsylvania by Dairy Farmers through the American Dairy Association Dairy Council and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, plus Agribusi ness organizations. The Pennsyl vania Dairy Of Distinction Pro gram is.conducted with advice and help by Penn State cooperative extension. Dairy of ■ Distinction o«t>y Farm ■uuWicMian N|«b apple cider, and fruit basket pro* duoer in marketing their products. So far, in order to qualify for the project, those involved must grow SO percent of the produce they intend to sell. If they need more volume to supply demand, then they are allowed to market addi tional, purchased commodities, as long as those additional commodi- ties were grown in Pennsylvania. Fulginiti said a group of produc ers organizing around the Allen town Service Center had their first meeting last week, and details are still developing. The next meeting for the Allen town Service Center roadside market has been set for 2:30 p.m„ March 9 at the Allentown Service Center, located along the northeast extension. Anyone interested is invited to attend. The proposed application form for Sideling Hill Farmers’ Market requests the farm name, the name of the main contact person and names of others involved in the farm operation, the address, coun ty, and relevant telephone numbers. It also requests a list of the major products intended to be sold through the growers’ market; a description of the farm operation; and if the farmer also operates another retail farm market or pick your-own fields. (This is not to be construed in any way except for understanding the perspective of HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED? Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program, Inc. Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance and other factors which can be controlled by the farmer. Attractive background scenery should not be weighed heavily in judging. All judging obser vations should be made from a vehicle at one or more points on an adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the road, the nearest lane). Judging should give equal consideration to old wood construction and new construction of metal or concrete block. The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or promotion activities for dairy products or dairy farming. Farmers who apply for awards agree that; if selected they will cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts to maintain both the exterior and interior of their properties in an acceptable condition. HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS The owner or operator of the dairy farm should sign the applica tion and send it to NEDFBP secretary by April 15. HOW THE JUDGING WORKS Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May. Farms will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual basis. Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be asked to remove their sign. The Dairy of Distinction signs remain the proper ty of the committee, not the property of the dairy farmer. All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent on their Dairy of Distinction score card. Your cooperative or milk handler will be con tacted to approve your milk quality. RULES FOR THE DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Committee. The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by the dairy farmer. It is suggested that a wood post 4’ x 4’ x 12’ or iron pipe 2’ x 12’ be used. Posts or pipe should be installed and main tained in true vertical position with 8’ above ground. Top of the bracket shou' i be lower than six inches from the top of the post. Sign shall b_ displayed in front of the dairy at roadside. An attractive post and bracket, or other frame, shall be used to dis play the sign. No more than three signs should be displayed from the sign frame or post, and all shall be of a style, general size and quality comparable to the Dairy of Distinction sign. Sign should be secured on all sides to avoid wind damage. Signs shall not be moved to other premises. New owners of a Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign. Replacement of damaged signs shall be the discretion of the committee. No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expense. Judges’ decisions will be final. Judging will take place between May Ist and May 31st. Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign in previous years will be judged between April Ist and April 30th. If they do not qual ify, they will be rejudged between May Ist and May 31st so they have the opportunity to keep the sign. Farms that do not requalify will return the sign to their regional Dairy of Distinction Committee. the producer applying for participation.) The proposed application also makes clear that all food safety, sanitation, health permits and labeling issues that apply to items being sold must conform with the requirements of the law. Also, state sales tax is to be col lected on products which arc not eatable, as is required by law. Miller said that she attended the first meeting of the producers involved so far in the pilot project site at Allentown, and is pleased by the interest and that the program is being developed by those who will have to live with the program and make it work. She said she agrees with careful development of die roadside mark ets by the producers themselves, and that she wants the program to continue to be unfettered by politi cal whims of government She has re-proposed her legisla tion, already reviewed by the Turnpike Commission, in order to officially authorize the program. Ultimately, she said she wants the program to grow as big as it will through the initiative of the farmer-participants themselves, not through a government-created and mandated program. For more information on the program, call Fulginiti at (717) 787-5086; or write to her at 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrilburg, PA 17710-9408.
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