ADM/Red Cross Blood Drives Aid Hundreds

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WAREHAM – Blood drives hosted by the A.D. Makepeace Company at Rosebrook Place over the past year have provided assistance to 864 patients needing blood, according to a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross.

The drives began last May, after the company approached the American Red Cross and Southcoast Health seeking ways that a local employer and property owner could provide meaningful assistance through the pandemic.

“The need for blood donations was critical, and complicated by Covid-related restrictions,” said James F. Kane, president and CEO of the A.D. Makepeace Company. “We found space where they could safely conduct the drives, assisted with publicity, and gave time off so our own employees could give blood themselves.”

According to Kim Houdlette, the company’s director of community relations, additional monthly drives have been scheduled through September. Appointments are required and can be made through a link on the ADM website, ADMakepeace.com.

“We are truly grateful for A.D. Makepeace Company’s partnership during one of the most trying times this past year,” said Viviana Dorch, Donor Recruitment Account Manager for American Red Cross Blood Services. “With your partnership, you have helped to ensure that we are carrying out our lifesaving mission to support those patients in need.”

The 166-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, developer of the award-winning Redbrook, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.

Welcome Back, Makepeace Farms

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In our neck of the woods, one highlight of spring is the reopening of Makepeace Farms for the season.

This independent, family-owned and -operated cafe and shop on the A.D. Makepeace Company’s Wareham campus makes some of the best house-baked cookies, pies, and muffins around. If you love Thanksgiving wraps, just wait until you try the Makepeace Farms version.

The shop is also one of the best places to get cranberry-themed gift items and gourmet foods, and this year they opened with all sort of new treats that we can’t wait to try: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company Artisan Truffles, New England Heritage Coastal Beach Plum Jam, and a slew of cranberry-infused products from Willows Cranberries, to name just a few.

NOW OPEN Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Wareham, Massachusetts
Spring, 2021

MEPA Site Visit and Remote Consultation Session

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NOTICE OF MEPA SITE VISIT AND REMOTE CONSULTATION SESSION/VIDEO CONFERENCE

EEA No. 13940      ADM TMUD Wareham PV+ES Projects (Phases C10-C12)     

Project Description: An Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) (please note: this is a link to only part of the EENF; see contact information below to obtain a full copy) has been filed with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs by Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. to construct three ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) generating facilities and energy storage (ES) systems:

Phase C10: 27 Charge Pond Road PV and ES Project- An approximately 5 megawatt (MW) AC/11.6 MW DC solar array and energy system requiring the clearing of approximately 40.1 acres of land on a 42.1-acre site. The Proponent will also remove trash and debris from an approximately 6,500-square foot area of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW).

Phase C11: 140 Tihonet Road PV and ES Project- An approximately 5 MW AC/19.3 MW DC solar array and energy system requiring the clearing of approximately 65.3 acres of land on a 66.2-acre site.

Phase C12: 150 Tihonet Road PV and ES Project- An approximately 5 MW AC/15.5 MW DC solar array and energy system requiring the clearing of approximately 49.2 acres of land.

The projects are subject to MEPA review in accordance with a Special Review Procedure (SRP) established on January 29, 2007 for the development of approximately 6,000 acres of land in Carver, Plymouth an Wareham. Phases C10 and C12 individually exceed the ENF threshold at

301 CMR 11.03(1)(b)(1), Direct alteration of 25 or more acres of land and Phase C11 exceeds the EIR threshold at 301 CMR 11.03(1)(a)(1), Direct alteration of 50 or more acres of land. According to the EENF, none of the projects requires a State Agency Action, such as a permit.

The Proponent has requested a Waiver from the requirement to prepare an EIR for the Phase C11 project, or alternatively, has requested to prepare a Single EIR for Phase C11.

A public consultation session will be held by video conference to receive advice and comments from agencies, officials, and citizens regarding which environmental issues, if any, are significant for this project. Opinions as to the extent and significance of possible environmental impact, and the Proponent’s Waiver and Single EIR requests, will be welcome.

MEPA Video Conference/Consultation Session scheduled for: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

*Please RSVP to alexander.strysky@mass.gov at least one hour prior to the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone*

An in-person site visit will be conducted at 12:00 noon on Thursday April 22.  For safety reasons, the number of attendees at the site visit will be limited and all attendees must wear a mask and maintain social distancing. The purpose of the site visit is to view existing conditions; to minimize the duration of the site visit, attendees are requested to generally limit discussion to site conditions under existing and proposed conditions. The video conference on April 28 will include a comprehensive discussion of the project and provide the opportunity to ask questions and make comments on the project. To attend the in-person site visit, please RSVP to alexander.strysky@mass.gov by 5:00 PM on Tuesday April 20.

MEPA comments due on or before: May 24, 2021

Certificate due: June 1, 2021

Contact for project information: Stacy Minihane, (508) 366-0560, sminihane@bealsandthomas.com

MEPA contact: Alex Strysky, (857) 408-6957, alexander.strysky@mass.gov

Comments may be submitted by email to alexander.strysky@mass.gov or via the MEPA Public Comments Portal.

Winter Barge Sanding

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Once the harvest is completed in late fall, the cranberry vines are given time to dry out and become dormant. You’ll see the color of the bog change to a deep burgundy. Winter flood, typically applied during the later winter months, protects the vines from extreme cold and harsh winter winds. The bud for the 2021 fall crop is already on the vine, and protecting it from the winter elements is a priority.

While the cranberry bogs are flooded, an opportunity for tending the vines presents itself. Growers typically use two methods of sanding: ice sanding and barge (water) sanding. Thick ice allows for the use of buggies to scamper over the ice, dropping a thin layer of sand. When ice sanding is not an option, a water barge is used to accomplish the same goal on the flooded bog. Watch our video here.

Both methods allow sand to filter down to the bog surface. The sand provides nutrients, helps with insect control, and prunes long vines. When the sand lands on a long running vine, roots and a new plant will form. It is not uncommon for a single long vine to create several new plants after being sanded. The practice of sanding is generally performed every three to five years, per bog. The A.D. Makepeace Company sands 500 to 600 acres of bog annually.

The small size of the cranberry industry means the major manufacturers don’t cater to our specialized equipment needs. Therefore, our maintenance team creates, builds, and maintains most of our machinery including picking machines, pumps, harvesting equipment, and some farm vehicles. While the manufacturing of equipment happens throughout the year, the winter allows for additional attention to be paid to such efforts.

In addition, the winter months allow for spring renovation planning, forestry management, skills/management training, and educational classes and certifications for our team.

Wareham, Massachusetts
January, 2021

MEPA Quarterly Meeting

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ADM Development Services LLC will hold a Public Information Meeting on March 22, 2021 at 4:30 PM at the Rosebrook Event Center, 50 Rosebrook Place, Wareham, MA.

The Public Information Meeting is being held as a quarterly update meeting and pre-filing meeting regarding the proposed ADM Tihonet Mixed-Use Development project. The Public Information Meeting is being held and noticed in accordance with the Certificate of the Secretary of Environmental trendat Affairs Establishing a Special Review Procedure, dated January 29, 2007. The purpose of the meeting is to present information about the proposed development and provide the public with an opportunity to discuss and comment on the proposed development, including future energy projects.

The meeting will be held in accordance with the Commonwealth’s latest guidance regarding holding meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks are required and social distancing will be implemented.

For additional information, contact Stacy Minihane at Beals and Thomas, Inc. · 32 Court Street, Plymouth, MA · (508) 366-0560 · sminihane@bealsandthomas.com

Flannery Joins ADM Team

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Lori Flannery

Lori Flannery learning first-hand about the cranberry industry. Photo by Kim Houdlette for the A.D. Makepeace Company.

WAREHAM – Lori Flannery has been named vice president and Chief Financial Officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company.

Flannery, 56, most recently served as senior director of corporate finance for Shawmut Design and Construction in Boston. She holds an MBA from Providence College, and previously worked for Gilbane Building Company for 30 years, most recently as vice president Corporate Controller. She is a resident of Walpole.

In announcing her appointment, ADM President and CEO James Kane said, “Lori’s extensive knowledge and experience make her a perfect fit for our complex and diversified company.”

Flannery oversees a team of seven financial professionals and is based in the company’s Wareham headquarters.

The 166-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

Redbrook-Plymouth Wins More Awards

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Your Mayflower II Home by The Stabile Companies at Redbrook PlymouthBOSTON – The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB) presented Redbrook-Plymouth with another six Prism Awards at a recent virtual awards ceremony. The annual awards celebrate the best of the best in the region’s residential building industry.

The new village’s four Gold awards included top honors in the most coveted categories: Best Team of the Year and Best Ad Campaign. The team represents the A.D. Makepeace Company as developer, and its builder-partners: The Valle Group of Falmouth, Whitman Homes of Canton, and The Stabile Companies of Nashua, NH.

In addition, Redbrook-Plymouth won Gold Awards for Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Under $650,000 for The Fern, and Best Attached Home Under 2,000 square feet for The Mayflower II. Both homes are designed and built by The Stabile Companies.

Redbrook netted silver awards for Best Attached Home Under 1,800 square feet for The Emerald Townhome by Whitman Homes, and Best Universal Design for the Redbrook Apartments, a joint venture of the A.D. Makepeace Company and Campanelli of Braintree.

“We are particularly gratified that the selection committee recognized the work of our sales team. Home sales during a pandemic shutdown was an extraordinary challenge, and I was proud of our ability to pivot seamlessly to a remote model,” said Michael P. Hogan, president and CEO of Agawam Development Company, the A.D. Makepeace Company subsidiary responsible for Redbrook’s development. “Redbrook is exactly the product that homebuyers were seeking during the pandemic: a genuinely diverse community situated within a vast natural setting.”

History of Winning

Redbrook has won a total of 32 of the prestigious awards since the new village welcomed its first homeowners in 2015.

BRAGB, a trade association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders and Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, has represented the industry since 1944. BRAGB has evolved into one of the leading trade associations in New England. With over 390 member companies, including single-family, multifamily builders, and commercial builders and remodeling contractors, BRAGB is one of New England’s most prominent and influential trade associations.

The A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook. The 165-year-old company is the world’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship.

Information about the village is available at redbrookplymouth.com.

100% of Ocean Spray’s Cranberries Verified as Sustainably Grown

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BOSTON, April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, announces it is the first major fruit cooperative worldwide to achieve 100% sustainably grown verification for its Ocean Spray cranberries through the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform’s (SAI Platform) Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA). The cooperative has received a verification that 100% of the cranberries it utilizes from its farmer-owners qualify as sustainably grown using SAI’s FSA.  To continue these efforts, Ocean Spray is also working with National Geographic to support fieldwork in regenerative agriculture.

100% of Ocean Spray’s cranberries verified as sustainably grown using FSA, becoming the first fruit cooperative worldwide to achieve a 100% FSA verification.

The SAI Platform defines sustainable agriculture as the efficient production of safe, high-quality agricultural products in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers and their communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species. Third-party certifier SCS Global Services evaluated Ocean Spray’s sustainable agriculture program and on-farm practices at representative number of its farmer-owners’ farms, validating performance against the FSA’s 112-question checklist.  These performance requirements measure farm sustainability holistically, from soil health, to water conservation practices, to health and safety of farm workers and local communities. Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.’s achievement also marks the first FSA verification in Chile across all agriculture.

“By using FSA, 100% of Ocean Spray’s cranberries have been verified as sustainably grown and we are thrilled to recognize their achievement,” said Nick Betts, Americas Director at SAI Platform. “It is meaningful to have companies like Ocean Spray create sustainable agriculture systems to help fight climate change and lead as an example for other companies.”

“We were able to confirm Ocean Spray’s efforts to move the needle on sustainable agriculture in their global supply chain, verifying their achievement of Silver and Gold performance levels in implementing the FSA with their cranberry growers,” said Bonnie Holman, Director of Sustainability Certifications at SCS Global Services.  “We commend Ocean Spray’s dedication to leadership in sustainable cranberry production!” SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party sustainability and food safety certification, auditing, testing, and standards development.

Ocean Spray’s farmers take great care of the water, soil, ecosystems, and communities on and around their farms.  On average, every 1 acre of cranberry bog conserves 5.5 acres of natural lands, such as wetland, forests, and grasslands, conserving natural land for native plants and wildlife. To further conserve resources, many farmers use water efficiency technologies such as soil moisture probes, and monitor their soil health and nutrient management to ensure vines receive nutrients at the right time and in the right amount for berry growth and protection of water resources. As a long-lived perennial vine, farmers also work to ensure the farm is sustainable for generations. Some farmers are growing cranberries on vines that have been passed down over decades and are over 100 years old. Many farmers are leaders in their community, providing agritourism on their farms, serving on local school or municipality boards, and volunteering time and farming equipment to help their community infrastructure.

“As Ocean Spray moves into our 90th year as a cooperative and as the world faces unprecedented challenges, we are committed now more than ever to the future of our farms and the communities we serve.  We are so proud that our cranberries have been verified as sustainably grown through SAI Platform,” said Christina Ferzli, Head of Global Corporate Affairs and Communications at Ocean Spray. “We are now able to apply the learnings from our farms by supporting National Geographic’s work, shaping the importance of regenerative farming to combat climate change in the context of an agricultural system under pressure to feed 8.3 billion people by 2030.”

By supporting the National Geographic Society through grants, Ocean Spray will focus on the critical importance of regenerative farming practices to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges of our time including food security, preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Ocean Spray will support National Geographic fieldwork across the globe to aid in agriculture practices that help preserve the health of the planet. The field work includes projects such as bee-friendly agriculture, automated land-use, insect collection and biodiversity discovery, and global mapping of center pivot agriculture.

“The issue of improving agricultural practices that help preserve the health of our planet has not received the attention it deserves, and we are proud to work with Ocean Spray to support regenerative agriculture around the world,” said Alex Moen, Vice President of Explorer Programs at the National Geographic Society.  “National Geographic has been investing in science, exploration and education for more than 130 years, and we look forward to working together with Ocean Spray to support these impactful projects.”

Additional initiatives will be rolled out this year to help curb climate change, as well as to support food security and the health and wellbeing of all.

About Ocean Spray: 
Founded in 1930, Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry farmers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. The Cooperative’s cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, nutritious products in over 100 countries worldwide. Leading by purpose, Ocean Spray is committed to the power of good—creating good, nutritious food that has a direct and powerful impact for the health of people and planet. All for good. Good for all.  For more information visit: www.oceanspray.com

Fall on the Bog

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Some say fall is the most beautiful time of year in New England, as the forests show their brilliant colors and the crisp air brings with it everything pumpkin and apple. This quintessential New England scene is not to be outdone by the imagery in Southeastern Massachusetts of crimson cranberries floating against the backdrop of blue skies and green pines.

Here at the A.D. Makepeace Companies, we look forward to fall for a number of reasons, the beautiful scenery is just one of them. The middle of September marks the first of our over 1,700 acres of cranberry bogs being flooded, kicking off the 8-week harvest season. The agricultural team will move from bog to bog harvesting cranberries in the communities of Carver, Plymouth, Rochester, and Wareham, based on their variety, color, and readiness. As a member-owner of Ocean Spray, all the company’s fruit is delivered to the cooperative for processing and distribution.

Cranberries can be harvested dry or by utilizing water. Each of the two methods have their own advantages and uses. Traditionally, dry harvested fruit is utilized as fresh fruit and can commonly be found in bags or boxes in farm stands and grocery stores across the country. Wet harvested fruit is most often used for processed products including juice, cranberry sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries.
Dry harvesting involves using walk-behind machines to rake the berries off the vines into boxes or bags. Berries are removed from the bogs by either bog vehicles or helicopters. The fruit is delivered to fresh fruit receiving stations where it is graded and screened based on color and ability to bounce (soft berries will not bounce). Dry harvested cranberries are used to supply the fresh fruit market. These cranberries are most often used for cooking and baking.

All of Makepeace’s cranberries are harvested by the wet harvest method, as are most cranberries these days. There are three stages of water harvest: picking, racking, and loading. Cranberries have pockets of air around the seed chamber. Because of this, cranberries float in water, and thus, the bogs can be flooded to aid in removal of fruit from the vines. Picking machines make a single pass over the bog’s surface. The machines are equipped with either tines that comb through the vine, or water reels, nicknamed “egg-beaters,” that stir up the water enough to dislodge the berries from the vine.

Next, plastic “booms” are used to corral or rack all the berries into one tight circle which is brought to one edge of the bog for loading. The loading process consists of the berries being pushed over a suction pan and pumped up to a wash bay where they are cleaned, separated, and then loaded into the back of a tractor trailer for delivery to the Ocean Spray receiving station for cleaning, sorting, and packaging into large containers which are sent directly to the freezer.

In a typical year, thousands of visitors and locals alike would tour our grounds to view the spectacular harvest scene and learn everything about cranberries from our growers. This year, to ensure the safety of our employees, the public, and the fruit, we are not holding tours or public events. If you are interested in viewing a roadside cranberry harvest this season, visit Makepeace Farms for a daily posting of viewable harvest areas on our property. In addition, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association offers a map and other grower opportunities here.

Carverside
Carver, Massachusetts
September 30, 2020

Summer on the Bog

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The summer months see a wide variety of activity on the cranberry bogs. In the middle of July, the cranberry blossoms have been pollinated, fruit has set, and we see the bees disappear as quickly as they arrived in mid-June. The tiny cranberry flowers have dropped their petals and green cranberries have begun to grow.

At this stage, our top priority is to keep the crop healthy and growing. It is essential to feed, weed, water, protect, and support the growing fruit.

As the berries begin to develop in size, they need nourishment. During the summer months, fertilizer is applied to bog areas to encourage growth. Careful consideration is needed to encourage fruit growth over vine growth.

As with any crop, weeds may interfere with the progress and health of the developing cranberries. Weeds that are deemed detrimental to a crop’s progress are typically hand weeded. Weeds that are not disturbing the crop’s progress are often left alone.

The traditional rule of thumb is that cranberries need an average of one inch of water per week during the growing season. Rain is preferred, as it provides nutrients that irrigation cannot duplicate. Fortunately, irrigation can balance rainfall shortages.

Technology has come to play a crucial role in each season of cranberry farming and is particularly helpful during the summer months. Our pumps are equipped with auto-start technology that make it easy to set a watering schedule that ensures sufficient irrigation.

Consistent with industry best management practices, we use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques as an ecological approach to pest control. IPM includes a combination of biological, cultural, or chemical control methods. Throughout the spring and summer, trained IPM scouts use insect nets to monitor pest activity. This helps to determine if individual insect presence meets a threshold where treatment is necessary. Insecticides and fungicides may be applied during the summer months to control or prevent serious damage caused by various insects and diseases. Pesticides are only used when necessary and are applied by state-certified applicators.

With our constant support and Mother Nature’s help, our summertime efforts will result in a bountiful fall harvest!

Rosebrook, Wareham, Massachusetts
July 23, 2020