"The Tougas family are superstars, both personally and professionally," remarked State Rep. Harold Naughton, who was among the guests on Friday at Tougas Family Farm.
Gov. Deval Patrick and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner Greg Watson visited Tougas Family in Friday, Sept. 21, to highlight the apple harvest season and tour protected farmland, recently acquired through DAR’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program.
Tougas Farm consists of approximately 75 acres of land, the majority of which is protected through the APR program. For many years the Tougas family leased a 35-acre parcel across the street from the home farm owned by the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF). In June 2010, NEFF, aware of the agricultural significance of the property, began working with DAR staff to have the Ball Street property acquired as an APR by the Commonwealth.
“This parcel links over 500 acres of prime farmland into contiguous units,” said Commissioner Watson. “During the Patrick-Murray Administration, land conservation efforts have protected more than 100,000 acres of open space, which includes roughly 8,901 acres of working farmland.”
Owner Maurice "Mo" Tougas led a tour (and wagon ride) through the grounds with Gov. Patrick, who visited the farm as part his effort to acknowledge and support local agriculture, but to tout the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program (APR).
According to the state's website, "the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program is a voluntary program which is intended to offer a non-development alternative to farmers and other owners of "prime" and "state important" agricultural land who are faced with a decision regarding future use and disposition of their farms."
Gov. Patrick and Tougas rapped about farming tips, bees and apple production to drought effects to Tougas's frustration with the seasonal hiring process of his workers each year.
"I depend on these guys who know what they are doing out in the orchard each season," said Tougas. "It generates a lot of local jobs, and a lot of first time jobs. Some of the foolishness we go through is frustrating in terms of the hiring process."
Tougas also discussed with Gov. Patrick the restrictions on producing certain kinds of apples—new hybrids that are trademarked, therefore restricted.
The farm employs 57 people. Tougas bought 53 acres in 1981, and added another 38 in 2001.
The farm according to Tougas, is successful because of its retail business, and its position as a family destination. Last weekend, he said, 9,000 visited the farm on Saturday, and 13,000 visited on Sunday.
"I hope they appreciate you, Mo," said Patrick, taking a bite of an apple from the tree. "You do good work."
Patrick said it is important to focus on agriculture in the state because it has such a rich heritage in the commonwealth. "The ability to protect them wisely is important," said Gov. Patrick."It is a country where we have worked conscientiously on agriculture and it has aid dividends. This is about more than scenery. There is a 27 percent increase in family farms in the state. The APR program is very successful, and something we are proud of."
This past fiscal year DAR’s APR program added 26 properties – conserving roughly 1,575 acres of farmland across the Commonwealth. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranch Land Protection program participated in 21 of the 26 projects.
For a list of Massachusetts apple orchards, pick-your-own apple farms, and farmers' markets and roadside produce stands, DAR has an easy-to-use farm finder, which provides information about local farms, their locations and contact information.