2009-06-02T16:06:00.003+09:00

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US family farmers on a way Chicago

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Written by YAMADA, Masaru

The mass production of beef and grain, the image of a strong U.S. agricultural exports redeployed. Meanwhile, traditional farming methods and incorporate, and strengthen ties with the region, farmers are increasingly finding a way out. I visited a family farm in the northeastern United States starting this month. "Century of Farming," The third section of the report from the U.S. agriculture in the face of another.

Heart of New York City, Union Square in Manhattan. Cheer went up from under the green tent in the farm stand was built brand new.

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Was led by 13 teachers from primary schools in the survey握RISHIME children, the stand 50 to explore the stores of the farmers. People asked in amazement I stopped in front of a sell seedlings Stokes Farm Flower Farm.

"Flowers can make in New York"

He replied in a tone familiar to the farm of Tom Margotta. "Yeah. I can make a lot of flowers. Now I want to actually come and see."

Jessica's elementary school teachers who led them. "Garbage to bring home the kids, throw in the recycling box at the side of the stand.'s Good to know that the roots through the garbage at a local farm and food."

The project began to move the learning experience of agriculture. Studied at the farm stand and the children go to school and farmers. The city and surrounding farm, said the aim of the child to know that food and protecting the green environment. Organizations and enterprises to support agricultural $ 6000 (about 60 million yen) to contribute to the cooperation with Columbia University to create local materials.

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"New York is one of four children is obese. Is one of the reasons that you do not care to eat"

Environmental Council of New York to operate a stand (CENYC) David Hughes of the field, expect to receive increasing attention to the people behind the food the children of the city. Get on track to this project, the number of children participating in the learning experience this year over 2000 people expected.

The stand at the Union Square began, more than 30 years ago in 1976. 12 is made of vegetables and fruits are brought to local farmers. Currently held four times a week, 100 stores open more than a tent.

New Yorkers interested in locally produced agricultural products to Japan is just as high. CENYC stand in New York is expanded to 45 Union Square and other places. Consumers now, of course, for any well-established restaurant chefs have a presence.

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I was talking to Mr. Hughes, his voice has been multiplied by the David Graves had arranged a jam or honey on the side of the Corner program.

"Manhattan is the honey produced or not interested."

■ local production for local consumption and honey

Graves has handed me the honey label, the "roof of the honey collected in New York City," saying that. To the eye, a bee hive on the roof of a building near Union Square.

Few minutes walk, climb to the roof of the hotel stay was Graves usual, and go around the wall near the nest box and showed me grin, open the lid with a laugh.

Looking around the landscape from the roof, the green than I thought for sure. However, regular honey (more so), a honey bee hive採RERU one from about 60 kg, but fell to half of the building's roof. But Mr. Graves is mindless. To sell at a price several times the mass product, to make sense of management.

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Mr. Graves has started beekeeping in 1977, Massachusetts and berries and vegetables grown in the years to be exhibited later at Union Square. "The local honey is not" pushed to the voices of the owners visited the building near Union Square was a natural.

Total New York City on the roof of a tall building filled with 14 apiculturist birdhouse urban use, is more interested in the media. Mr. Graves also met with six, I was told the TV station in Germany.

"Conversely honey from pollen allergies, including pollen is so effective." Mr. Graves said.

So, a little投GE掛KETA suavely.

"The honey in the middle of Manhattan作RANAKU separate origins of another, also from China, for example pollen it contains."

Mr. Graves, said good crisp.

"The people in question in the pollen, it's important that includes many of the land pollen. Honey to pollen allergy in China China may be good, but in New York, New York honey I need it. "

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As a place to give consumers a variety of agricultural and food education for children, strengthen the stand of the New York presence. We are looking for 76 of the first farmers began to stand in Union Square, went to New Jersey.

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Posted on: 2009/05/13

From Manhattan, filled with New York City skyscraper, a car drove to the northwest 30 minutes. Surrounded by a sophisticated high-end housing in New Jersey ORUDOTAPPAN, the farmers stand to see a normal person in Japan. Vegetables and herbs, along the flower seedlings, coupled with the back of the building houses the seedlings have been cultivated by flower-tillage tomato and mobile bench Saturday.

"Stokes Farm" owner, who greeted her BINAGI Ron. This farm, in Union Square in Manhattan in 1976 when farmers began to stand out is one of 12 units.

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He was 16 years old BINAGI, remember the words of the father when the stand first opened in Manhattan. "It's what New York is a hunger." Sold out sold the truck loaded with vegetables.

The first was brought to 10 items such as tomatoes and strawberries. The business has expanded steadily in addition to herbs and flower seedlings. Land prices are high, management area is about seven hectares in the same as before. However, increasing the rotation to build a house, the sales increased. Shipments to dealers and market without any direct sale of and sell at the Union Square.

"Now more than 60 items. Herbs are most often in terms of sales. And build a traditional local varieties in the same tomato, napa and make kimchi for the needs of people in the eggplant and Asia are increasing population "

30 Contents of Stokes Farm stand management and between years has changed dramatically. Originally bought in 1910 are made by farmers and consumers. From the late 80's, the sudden change in the consumer-driven selection.

"Decided to buy the consumer goods, we produce it. The same flower crops. People want the pink flower pink if the trends. Flows are just unstoppable."

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Mr. BINAGI, while the business itself has been growing in response to changing market supple, even with growing alarm. The forest is full of supermarket goods, imports of vegetables and West Coast production of cheap, because to maintain the field in New York.

"KURANDARA not see a price that consumers would have lost around urban agriculture. 2001 nine months of terrorism, not the New York tracks for days. The value of local agricultural products I want to know. "

■ a vacant lot next to the farmland and

Environmental Council of New York (CENYC) Director Michael Hurwitz oversees all stand in the city, feels that things have changed a little bit of consumer awareness.

If organic produce in the state of California and Chile come from far, consumers have been thinking about it the right choice to buy it, and local agricultural pesticides and chemical fertilizers used in routine, worry It appeared that much more.

Stick to the local agriculture, but from the freshness of the product is not good. "I think there is a visceral sense of refusing to be gone from farmland and urban agriculture," said Hurwitz director. Green's personal belongings are lost if not for farming, food and interest in children, it dilutes the number of connections that bind people and the agriculture -.

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CENYC is a case of strict adherence to local agriculture, Brooklyn New York City non-governmental organization (NGO) who has introduced the Value ADDEDO activities.

15 minutes by taxi and go, Manhattan's business district and the atmosphere changes dramatically. To figure out some of the immigrants appeared, the size of the vacant lot about soccer. Tetragon surrounded by a wire fence, the doors are securely locked. Is visible in the field say. Plows to use the baseball field, a field that way.

Unfortunately, "farmer" HAORAZU, just watch from the outside, "If you have little vacant land, agricultural land would have appealed to the residents.尽KUSE the word is filled with wall-to-eat, to Brooklyn's". About me CENYC description of David Hughes, was sufficiently convincing.

This product is harvested in the farms, take the responsibility of the local people. The weekend is expected to help with the sale of his farm work and high school students stand.

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New York and bring in money from around the world and human things. Agriculture are reviewed in this metropolis. Stand the "change" pushed.

The next car to move to the southwest 5-hour visit to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania boasts the largest number of farmers in the country. Life refused to modernize the old, known as the home of the Amish.

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Some spread of rolling pastures, stand in neat little garden of the farmhouse. Houses lined the small seedlings are happy to weigh up the tourists went by car. Farmers behave the pie and homemade ice cream with a smile.

Lancaster County met at the wholesale market in Pennsylvania, visited the home of Mr. FUYADO EFARAIMU the flower farm. The couple also had an assist while走RI回RI with small children.

"For us, direct selling is an important management tool. By no means to reach customers, it's important to get a customer"

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Mr. FUYADO is within the county of 2,000 people near an Amish farmer. Life is moving in a carriage, plow a field with horses. However, in a carriage in the distance delivery of the harvested produce is not easy.

Lancaster Farm Fresh is a cooperative that appeared there. Amish farmers gathering their car does not have a computer and set up three years ago. This year, 22 pickup trucks and the association of organic farmers, about 800 are delivered to consumers. Recently, sales in supermarkets and other high-end organic produce仕入RETAI.

I visited the distribution center in Union County. The office is on the surface, JA seem to pick up more fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables, of course, had been rushed and non-pasteurized milk and jam. Supported local agriculture (CSA), which is one of the farm movement in the U.S. have been growing recently.

If the association, consumers are paying about 7 million yen per year during the summer, we get an assortment of vegetables every week. The car is one of Philadelphia's first major sale hours. Farmers instead of 25% from revenues to pay operating costs, and they have the advantage up front.

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"Many of the farmers sell directly to the individual had been, until the establishment of the union had to make a variety of crops. Now it's between the union, once the farmer can concentrate on specialty crops. Complication were freed from administrative tasks. "

Agricultural extension worker Jeff Graybill, Lancaster County, said that the stimulus for the establishment of agricultural cooperatives in the region.

■ Minshuku farmers saved dilemma

Lancaster County is the nation's leading agricultural area. Number of houses over 5,000 farmers in the county, many in America. And over the past 30 years, this number is not decreasing. Farm sales per unit area, the national average of 10 times the most profitable.

In some special circumstances that many Amish farmers and the agricultural characteristics carefully, and should have the ingenuity and efforts of the farmers market. Covering the County of Lancaster, owner of a farm house accommodation, I talked to Mr. Don Rank.

"Come in the county of 150 tourists staying in the farm house. to their agricultural products, as well as cash."

Mr. Rank is 45 acres (18.2 hectares) with about 100 head of dairy cattle breed. Since last winter, revenues have decreased the price of raw milk dairy in the nation to plunge. I could barely keep the income from a business house.

"Maybe the pressure in the dairy business if there is no house."

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House is starting the year 1967, has been gradually building a facility. In the morning who want to ride in a carriage, to milk the cows and experience. Breakfast is served in a traditional treat of milk and local pride.

"Mommy, this milk tastes good"

A young married couple who attended and worked at the government research organization in Washington the next day's breakfast. Two mornings a 5-year-old daughter Mary howled搾TTA drink milk at all. Tourists from Brazil is "not happy to stay at the farm of the city, in our country is unthinkable," I was surprised.

Our use of land near Philadelphia, and Washington, tourism and direct sales has grown over time by waving a flag and Agriculture Organization. These various attempts have been supported by high profits in Lancaster County.

German-American group was believed to protect the strict Christian and community life. Refused the use of electric vehicles and many drivers have been a simple life. Many live in Lancaster County, the farmers in the county called third of the Amish.

> swap

Lancaster County met at the wholesale market in Pennsylvania, visited the home of Mr. FUYADO EFARAIMU the flower farm. The couple also had an assist while with small children.

“For us, direct selling is an important management tool. By no means to reach customers, it's important to get a customer”

◆ ◆

“Many of the farmers sell directly to the individual had been, until the establishment of the union had to make a variety of crops. Now it's between the union, once the farmer can concentrate on specialty crops. Complication were freed from administrative tasks. “

Agricultural extension worker Jeff Graybill, Lancaster County, said that the stimulus for the establishment of agricultural cooperatives in the region.

■ Minshuku farmers saved dilemma

“Come in the county of 150 tourists staying in the farm house. to their agricultural products, as well as cash.”

“Maybe the pressure in the dairy business if there is no house.”

◆ ◆

“Mommy, this milk tastes good”

A young married couple who attended and worked at the government research organization in Washington the next day's breakfast. Two mornings a 5-year-old daughter Mary howled drink milk at all. Tourists from Brazil is “not happy to stay at the farm of the city, in our country is unthinkable,” I was surprised.

<Language> German-American group was believed to protect the strict Christian and community life. Refused the use of electric vehicles and many drivers have been a simple life. Many live in Lancaster County, the farmers in the county called third of the Amish.

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"During the last summer some had predicted, and did I get so tight."

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a 620 milking cow head, Mr. Meyer and his wife visited the home of relatively large dairy. Her husband Carl, who has described the situation that plagued the American farmer milk prices are low.

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My mother bought the farm in 1965 from his brother in 40 years of head start. Then, expanding in-house training. The entire 500 hectares of pasture management, including 12 people working. In principle, milking three times daily. Small amounts of cow's milk is reduced to two times.

Compared to small farmers, but cost far less competitive, but still 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of production cost is $ 15 each (1,400 yen) cost. On the other hand, raw milk prices will be closer to 20 dollars last summer and plummet to levels that fall below 12 dollars.

"Of the planned renovation of the kitchen is delayed. To not only keep the expenses as possible," said his wife, Dorothy. However, management has not only improved husbandry.

A few weeks ago, the stalemate of the dairy management and investment company owned by,

Was dissolved and the assets sold.

"Our goal is to pass the farm to the next generation, we are not going to throw out." Mr. Carl, unlike companies that simply withdraw the profits to go, I'm going to stay local. However, the U.S. Overall, the technology division of birth Male Female cows, raw milk supply and demand will continue to ease in the future, says Carl tough to predict.

And his wife's attention to local consumers. Began to incorporate part of the elementary school classes to visit the ranch recently. 10:25 to 1:25, learn the dairy during lunch in between.

"I believe that children can milk factory. Get interested in the field of children's show. The goal is to get to drink more milk."

The field of dietary education, she was primarily responsible. Important for the future "customers" to, which aims to attract more fans and the general improvement in the consumption of local farm.

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"Yes, $ 1 20 cents, $ 1 20 cents I do not."

Morning 9 o'clock, the sound went from production to market Lancaster County REORA the thick of the specific auction sale. Auction sale and move the field, to determine the value of each item. I counted roughly, is buying 30 or more participants. Most were local shops.

■ market support family -

The market will be closed during the winter, to be held from Monday to Friday every week. Seedlings before the auction sale of flowers, fruits and vegetables come in five to five times a week from Monday. Peak summer squash and sweet corn shipped six times a week. Amish farmers and the carriage track to ship, will make a success of a column of several hundred meters before the entrance.

"Unsuccessfully to grow tobacco was 20 years ago, established a market selling fruit and vegetables for local farmers to the store. 2000 that the shipments were about two percent of them was a professional farmer. Rest a small farm. "

Graybill says Jeff Lancaster County agricultural extension worker, including the market for three years in a local market in sales of 10 billion yen. Mr. Graybill has an important role to support the management of small farmers.

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The field right next to the market (policeman's rope) I talked to Mr. Nord was the work of Leicester. The market, one can buy for the selection of stand in the open garden. Farmers to compete in multi-commodity market is like a small amount of good usability.

20 minutes drive by car in Japan that does not show much, I visited the Green Dragon Market pasture. Auction sale of a unique population in the key of course, we CHIMOSHI or alfalfa, and was trading straw. The farmers sell the bond to the mountains to graze on the track, just stop the car at auction sale. Arm was his left, sending the eye to stare fate of the auction sale.

The seller was the highest in 50 cases per ton of alfalfa $ 200 (about USD 95). The average price was about 100 dollars.

"This is the end of the 2008 annual transactions. From lower corn prices, as compared to the same period last year, two percent lower. It hit a new series next week, I will wait."

Description of the market who have one of the Amish farmers who came to buy. He is a small farmer, who came to purchase a lack of pasture. Times a week the market is going is the rhythm of life.

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We left the Lancaster County, drive north for eight hours, went to the Niagara County, New York.

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Lake Ontario, across the Niagara Falls, Niagara County agricultural extension office in New York and Canada face, and come in the morning, tensions were running the office.

"Hit the unseasonably low temperatures, may have a freeze apples and peaches."

Passenger in the car and Paul Lehman's fear of the spread, the singer went to the farm. The county last year, just received a blow in the fruits of nearly half hail damage.

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However, management has met with Jim BITTONA field, had to say to Mr. Lehman. "It's OK about this. But lower temperatures tomorrow will worry about it."

BITTONA's a confident, in fact, not from farmers. Studied agriculture at Cornell University in the local cattleman NARITAKU. After working eight years in the dairy, 1990 signed a partnership agreement with the singer's family to the farm owner, the owner. To provide the family farms, which raise the earnings distribution has BITTONA.

200 grown in the orchards of apples and apricots ha. New York is in the state to control the pest by pheromone traps largest. Germany has recently introduced the flower picking machine to swing a rope. That the state's first attempt.

However, New York, this area is a purely agricultural area, agricultural land prices is 1 acre (about 40 ares) nor at 20. Buffalo City and the population decline in the steel industry has prospered greatly reduced, even in the aging population of farmers.

Cornell University agricultural extension cord tissue, from the year 2006 "project will be farmers," is an indication of the start of the crisis. More give advice on the Internet, establish a consultation service to the agricultural extension offices throughout the state. The goal is to draw on a farm that's a good manager BITTONA.

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The office is focused on promotion, direct sales of locally produced agricultural products. Urban consumers, not to come to Niagara Falls Tourism's target consumers rather than local. California has the largest fruit farm in the east coast, at the foot of the shaft in place of mass marketing to consumers, a market full of cheap fruit and apple juice produced in the southern hemisphere of the low-price Chinese products, new marketing he asked.

The map has been published in the direct sales made by local farmers where 78 houses are spread. Among the most ardent "local system" and got up to say a Tom Tower's Farm.

■ The principle of local survival

The tower's management of 40 hectares, the area will be small. First thing one says, "was the wrong value of agriculture to" cut.

"Farmers are always small and not survive, it has been white scale. Small farmers are treated as nuisance. The only competitive but have a loser. Not the local economy, the less farmers will maintain the community Can not "

Traditional varieties of apples and tomatoes in a wooden stand in a converted old barn, selling peaches and berries. To buy some from a nearby farm for the lineup, most of which were grown on their own.

The contractor is. However, you come to buy fresh ingredients for the chefs of local restaurants.

"I am who yearn to grow agricultural products for local people. Who will be the health of local consumers get a fresh. And the money circulating in the area, it should be a winner for everyone."

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The most important thing was to stand in for the local consumers "trust" and Mr. Tower said. To explain the many cases of food disguised in Japan, say that look scandalous.

"To get to the store that you'd come again. To say that the harvest is sold out at least, things like put the things I bought from other producers do not"

Ripe berries, and vegetables six starts in the mid-tower's stand. Has not moved forward. Line is met with fresh ripe. Does not even look to attract customers to the event. The tower is considered to flow only just to sell steadily.

Mr. Tower was born in the farmhouse, after the manager of a winery and a truck driver, was also a newcomer to the farmers to buy farmland. To work in a store and stand in favor of agricultural work and hire the local high school students. Have an interest in local agriculture and food of young people's first concern now is that they grow to the next generation.

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Overlap with the image of Japanese agriculture, "Agriculture in the U.S. The" end of the journey to explore the heart of the automotive industry, Detroit.

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Cities have grown by abandoning the farmland. But when the city started to deteriorate, farmland in the cities are growing. U.S. town's largest car at the Detroit interviewed, saw a strange sight?

General Motors in the automotive industry that have supported the U.S. economy (GM). Headquarters building, it showed a towering in the heart of Detroit. With only a few hundred meters away from there, however, the landscape is changed. crumbling houses and shops, many vacant lots. Watch the little people. The residents escaped the bad security, security deteriorates further, but that number fell into a vicious circle.

To hang out a lot of people in front of the building. Christian Peacemaker's Church. Alcohol, and the bouncing from drug addiction and prostitution, and people flock here for a free meal service to the church daily. There are also more than 50 people on weekends.

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The former nurse, where I met Shirley Robinson to assist in volunteer activities. Herself, had been addicted to drugs two years ago.

"Notably the automotive industry is sick, who come to the lunch car and dressed in dapper. The local church is a good or bad I can not. I have a normal life so far or who have fallen rapidly downstream. "

The church is a vacant lot near the "farms" were extended. The family vegetable garden and chicken coop of a few square meters of building space at the ruins, as if it has grown like a living cell. Vegetables and herbs grown in the farms, the eggs used in catering, sales and stand in the city, spending part of the cost of running a church. "Farmers abrupt" No formal agreement of the majority of agricultural land use, open space to the field itself.

Robinson says he has information. "We all fled to Detroit, even in the field site, Nobody. Demand for food assistance is increasing. Farms will continue to grow in the future."

The land of the people depend on meals in the church. If the technology of agriculture, continue to increase "infill urban agriculture," also hopes that we can eat.

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According to U.S. government statistics office in 2007, the poverty population is expanding, more than 3700 million people. The severe recession triggered by the financial crisis, this number is growing.

Gently spread poverty in urban areas. The attempt to get out of there, maybe one in her family's farm in the United States.

■ Charm infiltration of local products

"In Japan, you say CHISANCHISHOU"

Abba Ann, on the outskirts of Detroit. Rene BASSHU met at the restaurant's "local production for local consumption" at the time was surprised has been cut out.

Last year, to reach local consumers with local agricultural products can "RAKOBORIASU" founded the company. The frozen material was harvested during the summer season, from autumn to winter supply.

In June, a one in two consumers seeking membership year. Monthly in the fall, bring several frozen. The farmer has to pay the price before the harvest. The supermarket shelves are 450 grams per 100 frozen corn available in the yen, the company is selling at 400 yen. Many applicants, but sellout crowd.

"Frozen in different flavors, which supported the company I think people need local agriculture."

BASSHU has now started a relationship around the farm last year, is negotiating to get a shipping company. Scale is still small, a little number-supported agriculture (CSA) began to grasp the challenge of expanding the circle.

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"Price is not alone, many consumers will find significant value." Explained to me is Mike Score's Product Center for Agricultural Development was established in a number of local Michigan State University.

I visited a farm near Mike BOSSORI ARUBA's been brought to his score. the flowers of the apple. Most farms are bought by BOSSORI 10 years ago.

"At the time, was working in the auto parts company. Market is shrinking, agriculture turned dark and the future. It was the right choice"

18 to 104 hectares are planted apple seeds. The turn away from large-scale apple production by a single species, in order to sell their home stand next to all the apples. The weekend of the 1000 season, the crowd of more than one car.

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The beautifully manicured gardens, rent a wedding hall and a carriage. Using a 100 year old facility, which also make apple cider.

In the full price, to keep consumers feeling tickling the rich "will consist of management," and BOSSORI believe.

End

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