State Will Expand Promotion Of Forestry Products

HARTFORD — Connecticut is expanding a 24-year-old program that promotes the state’s agriculture to now boost forestry products.

The state Department of Environmental Protection was slated to announce the expansion of the Connecticut Grown program on January 12.

Christopher Martin, director of the division of forestry at the environmental agency, says the Connecticut Grown program has raised awareness of locally produced food and other agricultural products. He says it also has helped reduce land development. State officials now hope to do the same for forests and forestry products.

Mr Martin says that although Connecticut is among the most densely populated states, 60 percent is forested. A federal inventory shows the state’s forests are declining.

In December, then-Governor Rell announced that goods such as furniture, flooring, lumber and fencing made from wood harvested in Connecticut forests will now bear the popular Connecticut Grown marketing label.

“Expanding the ‘Connecticut Grown’ label to forestry products makes absolute sense and will give these products a stronger presence in the marketplace,” Governor Rell said. “This initiative will appeal to the growing number of consumers who choose to buy locally grown materials and be a boost for our forest products industry and the jobs it creates.

“We can all take great pride in our homegrown products and the responsible management of the land. Caring correctly for our renewable, natural resources ultimately allow us to reduce our carbon footprint,” she said.

The Connecticut Grown Program was developed in 1986, when the green and blue logo was created to identify agricultural products grown in the state.  Over the past two decades, a strong marketing and outreach effort has established Connecticut Grown as a well-known and popular program. 

Department of Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli praised the expansion of the program.

“The wood industry is not only an important component to our working woodlands, it is a valuable resource that our citizens utilize on a daily basis and the sustainability of this resource is what our CT Grown program is all about,” Mr Prelli said. “The proper maintenance of our forests provides a continuing agricultural product in our wood.”