Massachusetts Food System Collaborative
Massachusetts Food System Collaborative

Local regulations inhibit farm viability

Marlene and Chris Stasinos farm 139 acres of land and operate a popular farm stand in Haverhill. They offer educational tours to local groups and are committed to sustainable farming practices.

In 2011, looking for ways to keep their farm in business and meet customers’ growing demand for local meats, they added eight pigs to their 200-year-old farm, which had been home to various kinds of livestock throughout its history. When one neighbor complained, the town’s board of health wrote regulations requiring anyone with more than one pig to apply for a permit, setting out strict protocols that effectively denied the Stasinos’ from keeping pigs on their farm.


 

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Massachusetts Food System Collaborative