Trees are mighty important to this state, and the department in conjunction with the Department of Resource and Economic Development has implemented a ban on bringing firewood from outside the state to control the spread of invasive forest pests. The only exceptions are for heat-treated wood, or cord wood from certain neighboring state counties only with a compliance agreement obtained from DRED Division of Forests & Lands. Please see the article elsewhere on this page for details. Research shows that people traveling great distances to camp or stay at vacation homes in New Hampshire typically haul firewood along with their recreational gear. Transported firewood poses a real threat of bringing along hitch-hiking insect pests.

            New Hampshire Eat Local Month is coming up in August, but Sara Zoe Patterson and Brendan Cornwell are tackling their own Eat Local challenge for July. This pair of Seacoast Eat Local activists has set a goal of visiting every single farmers market in Seacoast Eat Local’s territory of Rockingham and Strafford counties, plus York County, Maine. The number of markets has grown to 31 in the three-county area from last year’s 26, so they are setting out to visit the 31 markets over the 31 days of July.

            Sara Zoe recently blogged about their visit to one of the new markets, in Hampton Falls, on the website, www.seacoasteatlocal.org. Recent posts to the blog section include how to sign up for the Yankee Fisherman’s Co-op Lobster CSF (Community Supported Fishery), which offers choices for weekly lobster packages through August and September. Call the Co-op at (603) 474 – 9850 or email yankeecoop@myfairpoint.net.

            In another sign of the times, the American Planning Association has put out a call for proposals for a session at their April 14-17 conference in Los Angeles to be devoted to ‘Food System Planning.’ APA describes this track on their web site:

            Whether it’s eating locally, raising chickens in the backyard, protecting land for food production, or addressing urban food deserts, planners are developing a systems approach to the issues of food planning.  Examine how good systems planning should relate the comprehensive plan and daily work of the planner.  Find out how the public sector is working with the private sector to address problems and support sustainable practices.

            Poultry projects are back in 4-H. Rockingham County 4-H is partnering with New Roots Farm in Newmarket to pilot a new program to teach kids about raising meat chickens. Initial Planning Meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. at the Rockingham County 4-H Office. Participants will raise poultry this fall and prepare them for eating in early November. Participants can raise the birds at their homes, or collaborate with other families. Novice youth will learn about raising poultry, and experienced youth will have the chance to learn more about sustainable practices and butchering. Space is limited, so contact the Rockingham County 4-H Office at (603) 679-5616 or anne.atwater@unh.edu to learn more or sign up.

            A big factor in the improved farm milk prices is the strong export demand for American dairy products. Year-to-date dairy exports total $1.88 million, up 36% from a year ago, according to USDA/FAS trade data released last week. Asia’s growing appetite for pizza and cheeseburgers is behind the growing world demand for cheese and dairy products, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek article last week. “Wholesale cheddar-cheese prices have rallied 53 percent this year as the U.S. shipped more than twice as much to Asia in the first four months of 2011 as a year earlier,” according to the report. South Korea, the region’s biggest buyer, almost tripled imports while China’s more than doubled. Pizza Hut, Papa John’s and McDonalds are all growing like gangbusters in China and other Asian countries.

Fair season officially opens this week with Stratham Fair, followed next week by North Haverhill Fair.

Lorraine Merrill,   Commissioner of Agriculture, Markets, and Food

(Excerpt from Weekly Market Bulletin, July 20, 2011 published by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, & Food)