U.S. Sen. Tom Carper expressed support for the the environmental efforts of farmers and industry as the 64th Delmarva Poultry Festival kicked off in Snow Hill, Md., Friday.
By closing at 9 p.m. on Saturday night, an estimated 20,000 visitors are expected at the event that is rotated among various communities on Delmarva. It features entertainment exhibits and food.
Also participating were Delaware U.S. Senator Tom Carper, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Buddy Hance, and Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. Each cited the importance of the chicken industry to their states.
Senator Ben Cardin, D-Maryland and Carper, D-Delaware,on Friday conducted a brief press conference to call attention to two new studies, one by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and one by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, that show progress is being made on water quality improvements in the Chesapeake Bay.
Cardin said it was appropriate that “we are holding a press conference on environmental progress at the Delmarva Chicken Festival.” He stressed the need to have sensible policies and good science on Chesapeake Bay programs. He noted that is takes a long time to cleanse the bay.
Carper said “we can have a strong economy and a clean environment.”
Delaware Agriculture Secretary Kee said “if you give farmers a chance they’ll do the right thing.” U.S EPA Regional Administrator Shawn Garvin told the press conference that “we all understand that agriculture and the environment go hand in hand.”
The industry is coming out of a tough period that included the bankruptcy of Allen Family Foods. However, new owner Harim plans to open a new processing plant in Delaware.
