Mar 10, 2017

CCCGA presents awards at winter meeting

Amidst 225 attendees of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association’s (CCCGA) 28th Annual Winter Meeting and Trade Show, Association President Keith Mann presented the organization’s 2017 Legislative Leadership and Government Service Awards.The event was held at Hotel 1620 in Plymouth Harbor.

Each year, CCCGA considers members of the Massachusetts Legislature and government officials that have consistently contributed to the quality of life in Southeastern Massachusetts and the viability of one of its original industries, cranberry farming. This year’s recipients of the Legislative Leadership Award honored Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) and Representative Keiko Orrall (R-Lakeville). Each have been staunch supporters of the industry, working tirelessly on behalf of the growers while sustaining highly effective representation of cranberry agriculture, according to CCCGA.

The recipient of the Government Service Award is John Lebeaux, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Under his steady leadership, the department is working to provide much needed programs and services to the cranberry industry, according to the association.

The CCCGA Annual Winter Meeting is an opportunity for the Massachusetts cranberry industry to gather and learn the latest information on industry news, research results, environmental updates and more. Presentations included information on climate change, the ongoing drought, tick and tick-borne diseases, frost management and soil moisture technology.

Secretary Matthew Beaton of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs served as the event’s keynote luncheon speaker. Secretary Beaton continues to balance environmental protection with the needed sustainability of the Commonwealth’s agricultural community, in particular the cranberry industry, a CCCGA statement read. He spoke of both the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today and his vision for the future. This vision includes climate vulnerability on agriculture, strategies for climate change resiliency, food safety, drought impacts and the continued success of the state’s Commonwealth Quality program.

For more information on Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, visit www.cranberries.org or follow the association on Facebook and Twitter.