Number of farms, sales are on the rise in Mass.

BOSTON – The number of Massachusetts farms grew 27 percent from 2002 to 2007, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA’s latest agricultural census shows that the number of farms increased from 6,075 in 2002 to 7,691 farms in 2007. The market value of agricultural production also jumped during the same period, rising from $384 million to $490 million.
The census data also show total direct sales from Massachusetts farms totaled $42 million in 2007, compared with $31 million in 2002. Organic sales rose to $17.5 million in 2007 from $7.8 million in 2002.
The report also said that income generated from tourists visiting Massachusetts farms, known as “agritourism,” leaped from $665,000 in 2002 to $5.3 million in 2007. &#8226