Southeastern Connecticut's communities are still largely rural and many continue to have economic activities related to agriculture. While the scale of agricultural production is small, it is important to the economy of the region and is critical for providing for the protection of open space and the diversification of the area's fisheries.
The 2004 Regional CEDS recognized the importance of this cluster while acknowledging that the approximately 3000 agricultural employees remains small relative to the overall workforce. This employment is spread over a range of agricultural enterprises including dairy, nursery production, poultry, wineries, fruits and fruit products and aqua-culture, and includes many small scale family farms producing natural or organic meats and produce.
In 2005 several regional dairies joined forces to produce a quality local product for CT Consumers, and to protect and conserve the open space represented by their farms.
In Lebanon, Lyme and Colchester local farmers produce Artisanal Cheeses that are found in fine dining establishments from New London to New York.
Producers of the most diverse range of nursery products in CT is found in Lebanon where a local enterprise employs over 300 in 70 miles of greenhouses on 350 acres of CT Farmland.
Southeastern CT is home to four wineries producing award winning vintages. Maple Lane Farms in Preston produces a unique product in their Black Currant Juice, and historic Clyde's Cider Mill produces Apple Wines.
With growing demand from consumers for local and organically grown products to feed their families, a number of smaller scale farms are seeing increasing demand for their products including fruits, vegetables, maple syrup, eggs, poultry and grass fed beef.
According to the State of CT, during the next decade, aquaculture is expected to be among the top ten growth industries in the United States. Currently, aquaculture is the nation's fastest growing agricultural business and Connecticut leads the northeast in aquaculture production by virtue of its oyster industry, several producers of which are located in Southeastern CT.