In partnership with Stonyfield Organic, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) are transitioning Northeast Delta Dental Stadium‘s playing field to organic grounds management. The field conversion will begin this spring and will transition over two years; the conversion to organic grounds management will not impact regular season play.
The move comes as part of Londonderry, NH-based Stonyfield’s larger #PlayFree initiative, which aims to help convert public parks and playing fields across the country to organic grounds management to ensure community spaces are free from the use of harmful pesticides.
The issue of pesticides on public parks and fields is one that continues to gain national attention as the safety of widely-used pesticides like glyphosate, which the World Health Organization’s Cancer Agency, IARC, has identified as a probable carcinogen, are increasingly being called into question.
“We’re on a mission to convert parks and playing fields all across the country to organic grounds management, but we couldn’t overlook our own backyard,” says Stonyfield co-founder and Chief Organic Optimist Gary Hirshberg. “Converting the home field of our hometown team was a natural fit and we’re thrilled to help give our Fisher Cats the safe ball field they deserve. We hope it inspires other teams to do the same, for the health and safety of their players and fans.”
“We’ve done a lot of research this offseason while working with a consultant, and we’re thrilled to partner with Stonyfield as we transition our field management from synthetic fertilizers to organic,” said Fisher Cats President Mike Ramshaw. “We’re committed to Stonyfield’s #PlayFree initiative, and are excited to make this a reality.”