NEW JERSEY

Wine of the Times

State's vineyards represent fastestgrowing ag segment

AGRICULTURE

G R O W I N g G R E AT I N T H E G A R D E N S TAT E

Love for Local

NEW JERSEY-GROWn FOODS FInD FAVOR WITH COnSUMERS

Sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture // NJ-agriculture.com // 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

7 Welcome Letter 8 Agriculture Overview

Food & Wine

10 Love for Local
New Jersey-grown foods find favor with local consumers Climate, experience contribute to high-quality fruit Garden State farmers grow variety of food crops Frozen and packaged foods add value to New Jersey agricultural commodities Program promotes food processors that utilize locally grown foods Industry evolves to meet customer demands New Jersey lands more than $211 million annually in seafood State emerges as a leader in raising clams and oysters New Jersey vineyards represent fastest-growing agricultural segment

14 Fruitful Endeavor

NEW JERSEY

2014

18 A Good Mix

22 In the Process

AGRICULTURE

24 Made With Jersey Fresh 25 Dedicated to Dairy 26 Catch of the Day

G R O W I N g G R E AT I N T H E G A R D E N S TAT E

29 Shellfish Farming

30 Wine of the Times

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THE VINELAND COOPERATIVE PRODUCE AUCTION ASSOCIATION INC.

More Than 80 Years of Selling the Finest South Jersey Produce
Our facilities offer cooling services, ice, and supplies to its members and brokers. We offer on-site or off-site buying for brokers.

1088 N. Main Rd. Vineland, NJ 08360 856.691.0721 856.794.2301 Fax

www.vinelandproduce.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEW JERSEY

New jersey AGrICULTUre 2014

AGRICULTURE
2014 EDITION, VOLUMe 1 JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Editor KIM NEWSOM HOLMBERG Agribusiness Content Team JESSY YANCEY, RACHEL BERTONE, HANNAH PATTERSON, LISA SCRAMLIN Marketing Director SARA QUINT Proofreading Manager RAVEN PETTY Contributing Writers KERI ANN BEAZELL, MATTHEW D. ERNST, CHARLYN FARGO, JILL CLAIR GENTRY, SUSAN HAYHURST, KEITH LORIA, KIM MAdLOM, KAREN MAYER, JOHN MCBRYdE, JESSICA MOZO, JOANIE STIERS Senior Graphic Designers STACEY ALLIS, LAURA GALLAGHER, JAkE SHORES, KRIS SEXTON, VIkkI WILLIAMS Graphic Designers JACkIE CIULLA, LINdSEY HIGGINS, kACEY pASSMORE, MATT WEST Senior Photographers JEff AdkINS, BRIAN MCCORd Staff Photographers MICHAEL CONTI, WENdY JO OBARR, FRANk ORdOEZ, MICHAEL TEdESCO Color Imaging Technician ALISON HUNTER Ad Production Manager KATIE MIddENdORf Ad Traffic Assistants KRYSTIN LEMMON, PATRICIA MOISAN Chairman GREG THURMAN President/Publisher BOB SCHWARTZMAN Executive Vice President RAY LANGEN Senior V.P./Operations CASEY HESTER Senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing KIM NEWSOM HOLMBERG V.P./External Communications TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./Agribusiness Sales RHONdA GRAHAM V.P./Sales HERB HARpER Controller CHRIS DUdLEY Accounts Receivable Coordinator DIANA GUZMAN IT Director DANIEL CANTRELL Web Creative Director ALLISON DAVIS Photography Director JEffREY S. OTTO Creative Services Director CHRISTINA CARdEN Creative Technology Analyst BECCA ARY

International Appeal
34 On Solid Ground
Row crop farmers show success through exports Horticulture represents almost half of the states agricultural receipts Turfgrass industry benefits economy, environment

36 Growing an Industry

39 The Grass Is Always Greener

Animals & Livestock

40 Equine Excellence
New Jersey draws big crowds with horse events

Agricultural Education
42 A+ for Agriculture 46 Fun on the Farm
Education abounds for students interested in agriculture Agritourism boosts farm income and public support

New Jersey Agriculture is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

On the Cover New Jersey farmers grow more than 100 different fruits and vegetables each year. PHOTO BY Brian McCorD

NEW JERSEY dEpARTMENT Of AGRICULTURE:

Secretary dOUGLAS H. fISHER Special thanks to all Department staff for their support. For more information about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, contact: Joe Atchison, Marketing Specialist P.O. Box 330 Trenton, NJ 08625 (609) 984-2223 or by email at joe.atchison@ag.state.nj.us. No public funds were used in the publishing of this magazine. Advertisement in this magazine does not constitute endorsement by the State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Copyright 2013 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member Member The Association of Magazine Media Custom Content Council

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Serving New Jerseys Cranberry Growers Since 1871

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GROW 50 MILLION POUNDS OF CRANBERRIES?

New Jerseys cranberry families combine hard work and knowledge gained over generations with modern farming techniques and careful management of our precious natural resources to produce those beautiful seas of floating red berries each fall. In addition to providing consumers with tasty, good-for-you products at the supermarket, New Jersey cranberry growers contribute more than $30 million annually to the local economy, and are responsible for the protection and preservation of countless acres of New Jerseys Pinelands. To discover more about this remarkable native fruit and the New Jersey families who grow it, please visit us at njcranberries.org.

NJ-agriculture.com

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A LOOK INSIDE

Welcome to

NEW JERSEY
Digital
Edition
OpTIMIZED FOR OnlInE
Each article can be read online, as a web article or in our digital magazine.

AGRICULTURE
WELCOME TO GROWING GREAT IN THE GARDEN STATE, a publication celebrating New Jersey agriculture. From High Point to Cape May Point, I have traveled the state, visiting countless farms, touring food processing facilities, meeting with school nutrition leaders, and I have found there are thousands of stories to tell, each as unique and engaging as the people that live and work in our great state. As you turn the pages of this publication, you will meet the innovators and the motivators that make agri-food one of the states top industries generating billions of dollars each year. In a densely populated state like ours, you also will see how agriculture impacts every resident and binds us all together. Agriculture is a major part of New Jerseys rich history and an invaluable contributor to our quality of life. There are not many places in the nation where agriculture is at the doorstep of every citizen. In New Jersey, it is only a short distance from any downtown area to a farm, where urban and suburban can connect with rural and share unforgettable experiences. Our farms also are connecting with schools, restaurants, hotels, stadiums, hospitals and more, so everyone enjoys the benefits of healthy Jersey Fresh produce and farm products. We are seeing more and more food processors committed to using our local products, helping to make Jersey Fresh available year-round and distributed nationwide. You also will see the diversity of New Jersey agriculture, with a horticulture industry ranked 8th in the nation, a world-renowned equine industry, a vibrant, sustainable seafood industry and a widely recognized fine wine industry. New Jersey agriculture is constantly changing and growing to meet the needs of a discerning public demanding the freshest, highest quality products. Growing Great in the Garden State showcases the stories that make up this thriving industry.

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WIN G G RE AT I N T HE GAR DEN S TA TE

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Stat e's vine represe grow nt yards ing ag fastestsegm ent

Wine the Timof es

Read on the Go
N FOO Spon sored DS FIND by the New Jerse FAVOR y Depa rtme nt of Agric ultur e

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lture .com

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The digital magazine is available for tablet and phone viewing.

2014

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Sincerely,

AGRICULTURE

Douglas Fisher New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture

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oVerVieW

New Jersey Agriculture

A look into the states diverse farm and food industry
THERES A REASON IT IS CALLED
the Garden State. New Jerseys diverse agriculture enables the state to hold its own with the largest fruit, vegetable and nursery-stock producing states in the nation. Each year New Jersey is a top-10 producer for such items as cranberries, blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, spinach and tomatoes. In fact, New Jersey is the most productive farmland in the United States based on highest dollar value per acre. Many of the states farmers grow a wide array of items, helping agriculture make a strong impact on New Jerseys economy. Throughout New Jersey, more than 100 different varieties of produce are grown, including bok choy and daikon radishes, that appeal to the large ethnic markets in and surrounding the state. But gardens arent just about fruits and vegetables. Theyre also about the diversity and beauty of the entire plant kingdom. That is reflected in New Jerseys horticultural sector (nursery/ greenhouse/sod/Christmas trees). Ornamental and functional plantings make up New Jerseys largest agricultural sector, totaling more than $455 million annually. While many television and movie images of this Mid-Atlantic state are ones of small size and dense population, an impressive 733,450 acres of farmland yield quality products that rival those of its larger neighbors and nationwide competitors. Most notably, New Jersey has successfully preserved more than 200,000 acres of farmland, forever protecting that land from development. New Jersey is home to 10,300 farms, with an average farm size of 71 acres. The states agricultural commodities totaled $1.12 billion in cash receipts for 2011, and production, processing, marketing and other agriculture-related industries employ 61,855 people. The tourist industry that supports many coastal towns is enhanced by both the commercial and private fishing industry and by the presence of agritourism spots such as wineries, crop mazes, agricultural fairs, pick-your-own farms, etc. Seafood also is an important part of the states agricultural industry. Commercial fishing brought in $211 million in 2011. The state is home to Cape May port, the second largest port on the East Coast and fifth largest nationwide. New Jersey seafood such as tuna, swordfish, bluefish, tilefish, flounder, scallops and blue crabs are sold locally and to markets and restaurants in nearby states and around the world. The state also is home to a bustling aquaculture industry, and is among the leading states in the production of shellfish such as clams and oysters. New Jerseys orchards are bountiful. Blueberries, cranberries, peaches, apples and strawberries are the most widely harvested fruit and berry crops. New Jersey ranked fifth in the nation for blueberries and third for cranberries in 2012. That same year, New Jersey farmers produced 30,000 tons of peaches. In addition, New Jersey has a notable equine industry. Home to the United States Equestrian Team, as well as numerous horse barns and parks, New Jersey boasted a $46 million horse industry in 2012. The state is known for its thriving beekeeping industry. New Jersey, in which the honeybee is the State Insect, has more than 1,100 beekeepers. Honeybees are important both for pollinating about two-thirds of the produce crops grown in New Jersey, and producing honey. In 2012, beekeepers produced 462,000 pounds of honey, with a value of $869,000. The dairy industry also is wellrepresented in the state. The milk produced by New Jersey dairy farmers is used in yogurt, butter, cheese and other products, which are marketed within the state and surrounding areas. The NJDA has a USDA-accredited Organic Certification Program to certify organic crops, livestock, wild crafting, and handling (food processing) operations. Currently the program certifies about 58 farms with more than 1,820 acres in production, as well as 23 food handlers. With a broad range of products and commodities, agri-food is the third-largest industry in New Jersey and contributes immensely to the state and national economy.

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New Jersey Agriculture

Agricultural commodities totaled $1.12 billion in cash receipts for 2011.

New Jersey ranks in the Top Ten states for:

Cranberries: 3rd Bell Peppers: 3rd Spinach: 3rd Peaches: 4th Blueberries: 5th Cucumbers: 5th Squash: 6th Tomatoes: 7th Apples: 8th Horticulture: 8th Sweet Corn: 9th Snap Beans: 10th

OF New JerseYs FarMland is Preserved, an iMPOrtant issue FOr tHe states ag industrY.

27%

10,300 71 acres
farms in New Jersey. The average farm is

There are

New Jerseys Top 5 Agricultural Commodities

HOrticulture
This industry includes nursery, greenhouse, sod and Christmas trees. Together, these sectors represent $455 million for the states economy.

Fruits & VegetaBles

New Jersey farmers grow more than 100 different fruits and vegetables each year, representing $428.8 million in cash receipts in 2012.

Field crOPs
New Jersey-grown field crops, which include corn, soybeans, wheat and hay, earned $112.2 million in cash receipts for 2012.

eQuine
Horses and mules generated $46 million in cash receipts for the state in 2012. New Jersey is home to 11.2 horses per square mile.

POultrY & eggs

The poultry sector, which includes broilers (chickens raised for meat), layers and eggs, is a $ 30.7 million industry for the state.

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Food & Wine

Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

Love
NEW JERSEY RESIDEnTS ARE
fortunate to have a wide variety of local agricultural products at their fingertips. The Garden State is a national top-10 producer of 11 fruits and vegetables, and agri-food is the third-largest industry in the states economy. Ryck Suydam, president of the New Jersey Farm Bureau, says the state is a national leader in the local foods movement for three reasons experience, expertise and energy . He explains, New Jersey and its truck-farming roots have been in the produce business for decades, and its well-supported by careers in science and innovation by Rutgers Cooperative Extension faculty and ag agents. This has created an energy in these farm families who greet each new growing season with enthusiasm. These New Jersey farm families production of top-quality foods,

for Local
New Jersey-grown foods nd favor with local consumers
coupled with the growing population of New Jersey residents who prefer locally grown ingredients, creates a unique opportunity to connect farmers with consumers. Thats exactly what Jersey Fresh is designed to do. Launched in 1984, Jersey Fresh is an advertising, promotional and quality-grading program that helps farmers inform consumers about the availability and variety of fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey. The organizations hard work has paid off consumers are demanding locally grown New Jersey produce now more than ever, and the Jersey Fresh logo lets them know they are getting the highest-quality produce available. The Jersey Fresh website, www.JerseyFresh.nj.gov, is packed with useful information for those looking for fresh, local produce. Youll find pick-your-own farms, farmers markets, agritourism activities, roadside stands, Story by Jill Clair Gentry

Chef Craig Korb holds a pot of local seafood at the Crabs Claw Inn in Barnegat Light, N.J.

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We use all Jersey Fresh produce, all Jersey seafood, meats, cheeses, wines its totally, 100 percent New Jersey

BeCKy CHrIsTensen ManaGer, Crabs CLaw Inn

Left: New Jersey residents and visitors appreciate the accessibility of local foods when dining at the states restaurants. Right: The Jersey Caprese salad, served at the Crabs Claw Inn in Barnegat Light, N.J., incorporates New Jersey tomatoes, cheese and other ingredients.

Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs), products made with Jersey Fresh produce and more all stamped with Jersey Freshs seal of approval, guaranteeing the highest quality. Hundreds of restaurants across the state are using Jersey Fresh produce on their menus. One example, the Crabs Claw Inn in Lavallette, goes all out with its annual fall Jersey Fresh dinner as well as including Jersey Fresh products on its menu year round. We use all Jersey Fresh produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, wines its totally, 100 percent New Jersey, says manager Becky Christensen, who has worked at the restaurant since it opened 34 years ago. For families wanting to cook with Jersey Fresh produce in their homes, farmers markets, roadside stands and CSAs are a great way to find fruits and vegetables. In a time when food often travels thousands of miles before a consumer touches it, buying locally makes more sense, says Alan Weinberg, owner of Alans Orchard in Westfield.

Local farmers arent just selling their produce to restaurants and families. Its also being used to feed school children. Because New Jersey is one of three states in which the federal school nutrition programs are administered through the Department of Agriculture, its easy for schools to work with local farmers to get fresh, local produce on their lunch and breakfast menus. With new lunch meal regulations that require more fruits and vegetables to be on lunch menus, its an excellent time for schools to make a step to support the farm-to-school initiative, says Rose Tricario, Division of Food and Nutrition Director for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. And working with local farmers to teach children where their food comes from in addition to what they should have in their diets. Because fruits and vegetables are so delicate and easily damaged, there is always a portion of a farmers crop that is still fresh, nutritious and delicious, but is unmarketable

because of its size or a small blemish or bruise. This common problem led to the creation of Farmers Against Hunger, a non-profit organization that works with 50 farmers around the state to donate produce to feeding organizations who share it with their clients, who otherwise might not have access to local produce. We serve many elderly people who cant always leave their homes to get fresh produce, working families and single parents, says Kristina Guttadora, Farmers Against Hunger program director and New Jersey Agricultural Society executive director. Were a bridge between food that might go to waste and food insecurity. Guttadora says local farmers make it a point to take time out of their busy days to make sure their crops get to people who need them. These are people who put all this love and attention into their crops, and they dont want to see it go to waste, she says. People should support their local farmers theyre growing our food and giving back to the community.
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food & Wine

Fruitful Endeavor
Story by Joanie Stiers

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NeW Jersey Agriculture

Climate, experience contribute to high-quality fruit grown in New Jersey

FARMER JOHN HURffS

great-grandfather knew more than a century ago that New Jersey provided the soils and climate to grow quality fruit. In 1896, William Schober founded the family fruit farm, which today grows more than 12,000 peach, nectarine and apple trees in Monroeville. The family has witnessed significant change in its long-time endeavor, including a decline in the fruit processing and canning industry in New Jersey. Today, fresh fruit drives the familys business and much of New Jerseys fruit sector. In fact, the farm supplies a greater demand than ever for its fresh, home-grown fruits, Hurff says. For the last five to 10 years, there has been a big push for local produce, says Hurff, owner of Wm. Schober Sons Inc. The demand has been there, both here at home and the markets we visit. Customers like buying direct from the farmer.

New Jerseys soils, climate and history of experienced family farms create an ideal environment for highquality fruit production, experts say. Delicious fruit, paired with access to large populations of people, makes fruit production a successful sector of New Jersey agriculture. A large part of the states fruit industry is blueberries, in which New Jersey ranks fifth in production, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Looking strictly at fresh-market sales, the state ranks No. 1 in blueberries. New Jersey also ranks fourth nationally in peach production, third in cranberries and ties for eighth in apples, according to NASS. The wine grape segment has grown and nearly doubled between the 2002 and 2007 Census of Agriculture. The blueberry industry also has increased, says Jerry Frecon,

An IDEAl EnVIROnMEnT

BlUEbERRY InDUSTRY GROWS

Left: John Hurff, owner of Wm. Schober Sons Inc., in Monroeville, N.J., checks to see if an orchard of Red Delicious apples are ripe. Above: New Jersey ranks No. 1 nationally for fresh-market blueberries and No. 5 for all blueberries.

Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

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Bushel baskets of peaches are ready to be sold to consumers.

a retired professor from Rutgers University, where he specialized in fruit. New Jersey blueberry farms in 2013 produced 65 million pounds of the fruit, a fair crop for an abnormally wet season, says Tim Wetherbee, chairman of the New Jersey Blueberry Industry Council. He also manages sales for Diamond Blueberry, the label for four generations of family blueberry production in South Jersey. Diamond Blueberry sells fresh blueberries up and down the East Coast and into Canada and throughout the Midwest. In contrast, the Schober farm sells off the farm and at community farmers markets directly to consumers within a 75-mile radius. Wetherbee expects the blueberry industry to collaborate more often to fund research and tout the fruits health benefits including high antioxidant levels. They hope to increase blueberry consumption and ensure a fruitful future for New Jersey.

New Jerseys Top Fruits

The states growers picked 120.3 million pounds in 2012, representing $80.8 million in value.

BlUEbERRIES

There are 5,300 acres dedicated to peach production, representing a $39.6 million industry.

PEACHES

Whats Online
Find recipes using New Jersey-grown fruits at NJ-agriculture.com.

Apples are a $28.5 million industry for New Jersey, with 34 million pounds harvested in 2012.

ApplES

550,000 barrels were harvested in 2012, representing a production value of $29.9 million.

CRAnbERRIES

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Food & Wine

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New Jersey Agriculture

New Jersey farmers grow variety of food crops

A Good

Mix
NJ-AGRICULTURE.COM

Story by Kim Madlom

GOOD CLIMATE, gOOD SOIL AND fARMINg

families with centuries of experience combine in New Jersey to create a strong and diverse crop production industry in a state with limited land. Our farmers grow everything from arugula to zucchini, says Dr. Wesley Kline, a county agricultural agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension. New Jersey is a major producer of asparagus, bell peppers, eggplant, endive, lettuce and spinach. Producers in the southern part of New Jersey have a long growing season, Kline says. They can start planting in March and be out of the field in late November to early December. Because of that season, the southern part of the state is home to the states top crop producers, including two farming operations with rich histories. Eastern Fresh Growers & Sheppard Farms Inc. traces its beginnings to 1683, when four Sheppard brothers moved to southern New Jersey to begin a vegetable farm. Hunters Farm and Market began in 1760 along the Delaware River. Both farms are operated by the descendants of the founders. Weve got good land and good weather, says Tom Sheppard, president of Eastern Fresh Growers. We get the moderate effect of the bay so its not as cold in the winter or as hot in the summer.

The climate makes growing leafy greens and lettuces a successful endeavor for the farm, which also produces asparagus, peppers, squash and dozens of other vegetable varieties on more than 1,400 acres in Cedarville. Sheppard says the location puts the company in close proximity to its customers. Eastern Fresh Growers is the marketing arm of the business for its own Sheppard Farms and several other farms in the region, including an organic farm founded by one of Toms brothers. Family members are continuing to join the business. My nephews Brandon and Fran are with us now, Sheppard says. They are handling food safety, and thats important to our customers and gives us a leg up on some of the competition. They are also working in marketing. Family involvement at Hunters Farm Market in Cinnaminson is also continuing. Farm market owner Amy Hunter-Zorns nephews help out on the farm between school and sports responsibilities, working alongside their 93-year-old great-grandfather, their grandfather and their own father. Hunter Farms grows sweet potatoes, yams and two types of sweet corn, white and bi-color. The honey white yams grown on the farm come from seed stock that is more than a century old.

Rows of bell peppers grow at Eastern Fresh Growers and Sheppard Farms in Cedarville, N.J.

Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

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Sweet potatoes and grape tomatoes are two of the many products grown by the states farmers. Many growers market their products directly to consumers.

Our yams are a unique product that we are now selling to third- and fourth-generation customers, Hunter says. The yams are so popular, we have a waiting list to buy them. Sweet potatoes harvested by Hunter Farms go to the Philadelphia market to wholesalers and farm markets and then into supermarkets and local restaurants throughout the northeast. Almost all the sweet corn crop is sold through local farm markets. Much of the produce is also sold onsite through Hunter Farms own market, which opened in 1993. The market is open from early May through Thanksgiving. Hunters ancestors chose the land because it is near the Delaware River. That location remains important, since the farm still runs its irrigation system out of the river so that even during times of extreme drought the Hunters have access to water. Kline says limited farmland in New Jersey has created a farming community with a deep understanding of sustainable practices. Hunter-Zorn can speak to those practices on her family farm. Because weve been stewards of this land for 250 years we understand how important it is to take care of it, Hunter-Zorn says. Not only do we rotate crops every year, but as soon as were done picking a field of corn we cut it down, plow it under and plant soybeans. This naturally replenishes the soil. Toward the end of November into early December when everything has been harvested, we plow under the soybeans and the whole farm is planted in winter rye. In the spring, the rye is plowed under to restore nutrients to the soil in preparation for planting corn, potatoes and yams.

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New Jersey Agriculture

New Jerseys Top Vegetable Crops

In 2012, the states farmers produced 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables, representing more than $134 million in cash receipts.

TOMATOES bEll pEppERS SWEET CORn $30.8 million $30.4 million $23.1 million

SQUASH $17.8 million

CUCUMbERS $15.7 million

SpInACH $12.7 million

SnAp bEAnS $3.7 million

food & Wine

Process
Frozen and packaged foods add value to New Jersey agricultural commodities
foods, fruits and vegetables, and cereals and grain products. Al Murray, Assistant Secretary of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, says the state boasts several advantages as a site for food processors. First, the states geographical location situates us in a way where our products are within a days drive of over 33 percent of the U.S. population, he says. That combined with our extensive transportation system, and one of the worlds largest ports, makes New Jersey very attractive to businesses interested in food processing. Seabrook Farms processes and packages a number of agricultural products, including green beans, corn, cauliflower and approximately 25 percent of all spinach in the country, working with nearly 20 growers in the region. Story by Keith Loria
WITH MORE THAN 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey, the diversity of agricultural production creates a natural connection with another industry important for the state food processing. The food processing industry thrives in New Jersey for multiple reasons, including the diversity of products grown there and the states geographic location. Many of the fruits and vegetables grown by New Jersey farmers are the same products that food processing companies typically seek. The states food processing industry also brings agricultural products from nearby states to New Jersey for processing, according to the New Jersey Food Processors Association. The associations member companies represent all facets of the food processing industry, including meat and poultry, seafood, dairy products, specialty

In the

We pack, process and freeze around 150 million pounds of frozen vegetables a year and transport them to supermarkets all around the world, says Brian Seabrook, sales director for Seabrook Brothers and Sons, Inc. Weve been in New Jersey since the mid-1900s and its worked out great. Were close to a huge population and people live close to where food is consumed. Comarco Products, Inc., processes nearly 6.5 million pounds of eggplant each year and also other Jersey Fresh vegetables like zucchini, yellow squash, and green and red peppers, grilling and roasting produce to sell to other processors as an ingredient or to the food-service market. The state also processes much of the milk produced in surrounding states, with 12 processors across New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture works with Rutgers

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New Jersey Agriculture

New Jersey-grown bell peppers await processing.

University in exploring ways to help sustain the states processing industry. Recently, the department collaborated with Rutgers on a variety of grant projects designed to foster opportunities in the processing industry, and has begun offering three-hour short courses for the food processing industry. The Rutgers Food Innovation Center plays a very important role in helping small to midsize companies interested in entering the industry, and their vast expertise is also relied upon by the large processors as well, Murray says. As the locally grown trend keeps growing with no signs of abatement, more and more consumers are looking for products made with locally grown foods. Because New Jersey has such a diverse agricultural industry, it serves this market quite nicely.

FullY integrated
The food industry in New Jersey consists of an integrated system that includes farmers and those involved in production agriculture, food and beverage processors, food and beverage wholesalers, food and beverage retailers, and foodservice and drinking places.

Roughly one out of every 11 dollars of economic activity in New Jersey is linked to the production, processing or distribution of food.

33 percent
of the U.S. population, which contributes to the size and growth of the food processing industry in the state.
Source: The Economic Impact of New Jerseys Food System: A 2010 Update
NJ-AGRICULTURE.COM

New Jersey is within a days drive of more than

Staff Photo by Jeff Adkins

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food & Wine

Made With Jersey Fresh

States new program promotes food processors that utilize locally grown foods
Valley Shepherd Creamery ages its products in local caverns.

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New Jersey Agriculture

PHOTO COURTESY OF VALLEY SHEpHERD CREAMERY

roducers associated with the Made with Jersey Fresh logo represent the high standards of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. The program requires food processors to undergo annual inspections, demonstrating the local origins of their ingredients. Producers of value-added dairy products must use milk from New Jersey dairy farms. These farms must adhere to Jersey Fresh standards and be licensed by the Jersey Fresh Quality Grading Program. Creating processed foods using Jersey Fresh ingredients allows the states food products to be used year-round and distributed outside the state. Hundreds of products have been launched. Some of the products in the Made with Jersey Fresh program include canned Jersey Fresh tomatoes, tomato sauces, salsa, peach cider, candy with Jersey Fresh honey and a variety

of cheese and dairy products made with Jersey Fresh milk. Eran Wajswol of Valley Shepherd Creamery credits uniqueness of place with making his artisan cheeses stand out from the rest. A participant in the Made with Jersey Fresh program, Wajswol believes that superior, locally sourced milk is the key to a quality product. The pasture that the animals graze on gets transformed into the cheeses, he says. If you made the same cheese somewhere else, it would be different. Valley Shepherd Creamery ages its products in local caverns, enabling regional molds to ripen the cheese into a distinctive delicacy. Wajswol combines European practices with local ingredients to create a product he markets to the public, through locations in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. There, the company sells gourmet grilled

cheese sandwiches, yogurt and cream cheese, as well as supplying cheese to restaurants in New York. Here we are producing worldclass cheese consumed in some of the best restaurants in the world, Wajswol says. We are in New Jersey and were making it the Jersey Fresh way. Made with Jersey Fresh products, emblazoned with the distinctive logo, can also receive support from Rutgers Food Innovation Center in Bridgeton. The Food Innovation Center facilitates manufacturing and marketing for small or fledgling food processors and assisted in the launch of the Made with Jersey Fresh logo. The food giant, Campbells, headquartered in Camden, N.J, is producing a peach salsa using Jersey peaches for the Food Bank of South Jersey to sell as a fundraiser. The company expects the Food Bank to raise at least $100,000 from this effort.

food & Wine

Dedicated to Dairy
Industry evolves to meet customer demands

ew Jerseys dairy farms are a classic example of how the states agriculture has transitioned over the decades, with one sector being in the lead for many years, then dropping back as another moves to the forefront, largely based on market conditions. At its height in the 1960s, New Jerseys dairy sector boasted upwards of 3,500 dairy farms. While the number of dairy farms and cows has decreased, New Jerseys dairy industry as a whole remains vibrant, with four major processing plants and

numerous smaller ones employing approximately 3,000 people statewide. With an immense marketplace of nine million residents in the state, and millions more across the borders in Philadelphia and New York, New Jerseys dairy processors find no shortage of customers. Today, the more successful dairy farms are those that have found a niche in the marketplace. Among the most successful are those that produce their own artisan cheeses and other valueadded products on the farm or in conjunction with nearby

cheesemakers or food processors. Other dairy farmers have capitalized on the desire of everyday people to see how a farm operates and enhance their incomes through agritourism. Barns full of docile cows and milking parlors with their fascinating equipment provide the perfect visual backdrop for adults and children alike to learn about farm life. The sight of a dairy herd grazing in a farm pasture is one of the hundreds of enjoyable aspects of the Garden States agricultural diversity.

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food & Wine

Catch of the

Day

Story by Susan Hayhurst

Fishing boats are docked for the night in the marina behind Viking Village in Barnegat Light, N.J. The state has ve major shing ports, and the industry represents more than three generations of shermen.

Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

New Jersey lands more than $211 million annually in seafood

NEW JERSEY IS BOUnTIFULLY

blessed with a nationally recognized seafood industry whose heritage is marked by ingenuity, hard work and investment. Third- generation fishermen are the heart of the states commercial fishing fleet, which landed 176 million pounds of fish and shellfish in 2011, according to Garden State Seafood Association Executive Director Gregory DiDomenico. New Jersey, along with other states managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, is one of the national leaders in sustainably managed seafood, DiDomenico says. Despite being in a highly regulated industry, our fishermens formula is to work with great cost efficiency, innovation and be as technically sharp as possible. Were providing some of the most nutritious, highquality protein that exists without overfishing.

FISHInG NETS ECOnOMIC VAlUE

The states seafood industry generated an estimated $1 billion of economic activity in 2011. Five major commercial fishing ports border New Jerseys coastline: Belford, Point Pleasant, Barnegat Light, Atlantic City and Cape May. A smaller number of ports are located on Delaware, Barnegat and Raritan Bays. Cape May is the second largest port on the East Coast and fifth largest in the nation. With the exception of Atlantic City, each port supports a number of inshore and offshore fisheries, DiDomenico says. The Atlantic City fleet is exclusively dedicated to the surf clam/ocean quahog fishery. Surf clams New Jersey has the largest such industry in the U.S. are frequently used in processed products such as chowders, sauces, dips and breaded clam strips like you find at Howard Johnsons.

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An employee adds ice to boxes of sh at the Viking Village docks. Locally caught seafood is sold to restaurants and directly to consumers.

New Jerseys seafood industry generates an estimated $1 billion of economic activity each year.
New Jersey is home to

major commercial shing ports along its coastline.

ve

Belford Point Pleasant Barnegat Light Atlantic City Cape May

Belford, with its ready highway access, can deliver its silver and red hake, fluke, flounder, sea bass and porgies to New York within an hour of harvest. Point Pleasants boats fish primarily local waters reaping sought-after scallops and fin fish, including fluke, whiting and scup. New Jersey ranks second nationally in scallop harvesting. DiDomenico highlighted Barnegat Light as the home port of many boats in the East Coasts pelagic longline fleet, which targets tuna and swordfish, as well as day-trip gillnetters and scallopers. And Cape May/Wildwood is the epicenter of fish processing and freezing in New Jersey. New Jerseys transportation infrastructure is vital to our catches arriving locally very fresh and to competing worldwide, DiDomenico says. Restaurants waiting for fresh seafood to serve that day to the clam products coming from our fisheries and sold on every shelf in the midAtlantic, can be grateful to our states highway systems. Each boat is an individual business, Gef Flimlin, Rutgers Conservation Service marine extension agent, says. The economic value of the seafood does not exist until its over the side of the boat. It creates money

and sustains jobs. From the guy fixing the diesel boat engine to the boat suppliers, the crew and captains take care of their families through the industry. Consumers seeking to feed their families with nutritious, locally produced seafood need only look for the Jersey Seafood logo on packages or visit www.JerseySeafood.nj.gov. The brand is modeled after the states successful Jersey Fresh produce branding program. New Jerseybased aquatic farmers, commercial seafood harvesters, and packers and processors can become licensed to market their high-quality products using the logo. Buying a domestic product means youre environmentally conscious and youre supporting the local economy. Even if the cost is a little more than the 80 percent imported seafood to this country, you know what youre buying and its worth it.

SEAFOOD AppRECIATED LOCAllY

Whats Online
Learn more about the states fishing ports at NJ-agriculture.com.

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New Jersey Agriculture

food & Wine

Shellsh Farming
hellfish aquaculture is not new to New Jersey. For well over a century, oystermen have been planting shell on seed beds to increase recruitment. New Jersey clam and oyster production, currently valued at $6 million annually, is expected to grow due to a combination of expanded production capability and innovative marketing strategies. The NJDA has collaborated with the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Shellfisheries Council to establish Aquaculture

State emerges as a leader in raising clams and oysters

Development Zones (ADZ) in the Delaware Bay. The State holds permits that would have otherwise been time consuming for individual growers to get on their own, Joseph Myers, NJDA Aquaculture Specialist, says. These ADZs allow innovative techniques to return to the lower reaches of the Delaware Bay that have seen production declines over the last few decades due to two waves of diseases that impacted oysters. One of those innovative techniques was Rutgers and Atlantic Cape Fisheries

development of French-style rackand-bag farming for raising oysters and Rutgers development of disease -resistant, faster-growing oysters. A recent NJDEP rule change has created even more regulatory flexibility for aquaculture in areas such as Barnegat Bay, and the NJDA is conducting a USDAfunded feasibility study to help growers develop farm-raised shellfish as a local food item. Opportunity also exists for better marketing for hard clams to help people experience their gourmet qualities, similar to oysters.

Preparing students for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture
New Jerseys 43 agricultural education programs are helping to meet global agriculture needs by offering rigorous and technical agriculture courses to 2,600 high school students each year.
Supervised Agricultural Experience

FFA: Leadership Development

Is agricultural education offered in your school district?

Classroom/Laboratory Instruction

Discover more about New Jersey agricultural education at www.jerseyageducation.nj.gov Ph: 877-AgEdFFA

food & Wine

of the
Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

Wine

New Jersey vineyards represent fastest-growing agricultural segment

Times
Story by Keith Loria

MORE THAn 200 YEARS AGO,

Londons Royal Society of the Arts recognized two New Jersey vintners for their success in producing the first bottles of quality wine derived from colonial agriculture. Ever since, New Jersey has continued producing high-quality wines, and now nearly 50 wineries in the state are growing grapes that go into the making of awardwinning product. Tom Cosentino, spokesperson for the Garden State Wine Growers Association, says that New Jersey has grown to become the countrys seventh-largest state in production and fourth-largest in wine consumption. Vineyards are the fastest-growingsegment of the states agriculture business. Ive seen a lot of growth and interest in the product. Its an industry that has taken hold the past few years and can go nowhere but up, he says. There have been a lot of New Jersey wines succeeding in national and

international competitions, winning medals and gaining notoriety, and it is fast becoming an industry people are learning about here.

MAjOR InDUSTRY GROWTH

Of course, that wasnt always the case. Before 1981 there were very few wineries in the state, but now, wineries and tasting rooms are popping up around the state, allowing farmers to switch from traditional crops to grapes. A big change in the wine industry came in 2012, when a new law allowed New Jersey wineries to ship wines outside state lines and even internationally. Charles Tomasello, Jr., co-owner of the third-generation Tomasello Winery in Hammonton, N.J., has been taking advantage of the new law, bringing wines into 28 states and shipping fruit wines to China, Taiwan and Japan. We lobbied strongly for the law, and our objective was to reach out

Grapes are harvested early in the morning at Bellview Winery in Landisville, N.J.

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New JerseY Has tHree FederallY designated AMerican Viticultural Areas:

The largest of the three, the Outer Coastal Plain has sandy, well-drained soil and long growing seasons, which contribute to high-quality wines. It is similar to Frances legendary Bordeaux region. The Central Delaware Valley and Warren Hills areas both specialize in fruit wines and white wines similar to those from New Yorks Finger Lakes region.

to customers who couldnt find our wines on their liquor store shelves, Tomasello says. Its enabled us to supplement our sale of wines to consumers and add some international exposure. New Jersey has three federally designated American Viticultural Areas. The largest is the Outer Coastal Plain in the southern half of the state, which is similar to Frances legendary Bordeaux region, with sandy soil, extensive sunshine, relatively mild winters and moderate breezes from the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. The Central Delaware Valley and the Warren Hills area both specialize in fruit wines and white wines similar to those from New Yorks Finger Lakes region. Tomasello Winery is positioned along the Atlantic coastline and the Pinelands, so it has Outer Coastal Plain soil. It currently has 70 acres under vine, with more than 30 varieties of grapes including Native

American, French hybrids and classic vinifera. Its known for its award-winning Rkatsiteli, a Georgian variety grown at the vineyard, as well as the many Fruit Forte wines, which have earned the winery numerous prestigious national and international awards, as well as the praise of wine critics, dessert chefs and wine drinkers alike. We take great pride in producing some amazing wines, Tomasello says. Its a very exciting time in the industry. You have wineries offering wine trails and festivals, and Im very excited about the long-term prognosis of wine in New Jersey. Another winery that has made itself known in competitions is Bellview Winery, in Landisville, N.J. Owner Jim Quarella planted his first grapes in 1999 on the same land where his family had been raising vegetables for almost a century. Bellview offers 30 wines, which include a variety of whites, reds,

AWARD-WInnInG WInES

SIMIlAR TO bORDEAUX

Newton

Belvidere

warren Hills
Jersey City

Central Delaware Edison valleY

Trenton Lakewood Cherry Hill Toms River

Salem

Outer cOastal Plain

Bridgeton Atlantic City

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New Jersey Agriculture

fruit, dessert and sparkling wines, port all from grapes cultivated in the vineyards and even a dandelion wine from an old family recipe. Dry reds grow really well for us and we have a lot of French-style because of the soil and the climate, says Matt Pino, general manager of the winery. We have won close to 100 medals over the years. Most recently, its viognier was awarded double gold in the New Jersey State Wine Competition and its chambourcin won a gold at the Finger Lakes International competition. It also took home a silver medal for the 2008 port and four bronze medals: NV fiesta, NV lettizzia, NV Jersey Devil white and 2011 chambourcin at the GSWGA Wine Competition this year.

Whats Online
See a map of New Jerseys wineries at NJ-agriculture.com.

international appeal

On Solid GROUND
Row crop farmers show success through exports
Story by John McBryde

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NeW Jersey Agriculture

FOR THE BROTHERS WHO OPERATE BULLOCK

Farms in Clear Ridge, crops of choice are corn, soybeans and pumpkins. Field corn and soybeans are prominent as well on Ellis Farms in Yardville, where Scott Ellis also grows sweet corn that he sells to area supermarkets, roadside markets and from his own produce stand. And at Rustin Farms in Princeton Junction, Steve Jany is in the corn and soybean business as well as growing wheat and forage crops such as straw and hay. These three farms in central New Jersey are ideal representatives of the states strong row crop industry. The last few years have had more ups than downs for row crop farmers, Jany says. Overall, the general row crop economy has been good the past four or five years, says Jany, who served on the State Board of Agriculture from 1997 to 2002 and was president his final year. All three farms have a long history, 100-acre Bullock Farms being the oldest. It has been in the Bullock family since 1860, with brothers Marty and Rick now the fifthgeneration owners. We grow the high-protein soybeans, says Marty Bullock, who serves on the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. They go to a local outfit that cleans and bags them for the Asian market in New York. Thats where most of our soybeans go. He adds, We sell the corn right out of here from the barn to deer hunters. Whats left over goes to Lancaster (Pa.) for animals, through different brokers in that area. Bullock Farms has been growing pumpkins for nearly 30 years, and has had a Christmas tree operation since 1999. Rustin Farms has evolved through the years since it was founded around 1911 by the father of Janys former partner, Earl Tindall. Jany and Tindall went into business together in 1974, and then Jany and his brother took ownership of the farm after Tindall retired in 1998. The farm was growing fresh-market produce and selling tomatoes to Campbells Soups and Stokely canned goods. Then in the late 1960s, Tindall bought a grain elevator and the farm became a corn and soybean operation. Much of Rustin Farms soybean crop is sold to Perdue and shipped through Port Newark to East Asia. Jany says some soybeans are sold to Farmers Brokerage & Supply in Allentown, N.J. In addition, Rustin Farms grows a good bit of straw and hay for horse feed. Ellis farm has been in Mercer County since 1960, when his grandfather moved there from Pennsylvania. He grows field corn and soybeans, and sells a considerable amount of his soybeans to grain companies that export through Port Newark, the largest port on the East Coast and third largest in the U.S.

Production of corn for grain saw a slight increase of 2 percent from 2011.

A STROnG InDUSTRY FOR NEW JERSEY

2011 9.96 million bushels

2012 10.15 million bushels

12 percent
from the previous year.

In 2012, soybean production increased by

DIVERSIFYInG THEIR OpERATIOnS

Whats Online
See more New Jersey row-crop statistics at NJ-agriculture.com.

2011 3.26 million bushels

2012 3.67 million bushels

Staff Photo by Brian McCord

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international appeal

Growing an
Horticulture represents almost half of the states agricultural receipts

Industry

Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

Story by Matthew D. Ernst

NEW JERSEYS NURSERY,

greenhouse, flower, sod and Christmas tree farms representing the green industry produce hundreds of different plant varieties, enriching and complementing the diverse landscape of New Jersey and beyond. The green industry accounts for 40 to 45 percent of New Jerseys annual farm production, says Dominick Mondi, executive director of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association. A 2011 USDA-funded study estimates the output impact of the green industry at around $4 billion. We count some 60,000 people employed in New Jerseys green industry, Mondi says. Those jobs are not unskilled, entry-level positions, says Ray Blew, chair of Centerton Nursery in Bridgeton. We have hundreds of computers used on our farm that help us automate and control things like irrigation, fertilizer rates and greenhouse temperature, he says. It takes skilled people to operate these machines, and those skilled jobs are the kind of jobs that agriculture will now create. From April to October, Centerton employs 80 full-time workers, supplying more than 1,000 kinds of plants to businesses in 35 states independently managed garden centers, franchises, farm and roadside markets, landscape contractors and florists. New Jersey companies buy plants from us either retail them or use them in landscaping, Blew says. That means more money circulating back into the local economy. Changing trends in home landscaping have helped maintain or increase sales value for some firms, even amid recent housing market uncertainty, says Robert Swanekamp of Kube-Pak, an Allentown farm with 20 acres of greenhouses. Weve seen a dramatic shift to selling plants into the landscape trade as more homeowners are having that work done, he says. This means growing higher-value plants in larger pot sizes; more mature plants provide the instant impact homeowners now crave.
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Left: Bees love the Arizona Sun Blanketowers at Centerton Nursery in Bridgeton, N.J. Above: The National Christmas Tree Associations 2013 Grand Champion, Wyckoff Farms in Belvidere, N.J., offers more than 5,000 trees in six varieties on 65 acres.

Floriculture (greenhouse) sales in New Jersey grew about 3 percent in 2012 the fourth consecutive year of positive sales growth exceeding $170 million for the first time since 2008. Greenhouses have shifted their production focus away from bedding plants, selling more hanging baskets and patio pots as consumers clamor for instant impact and bigger colors. The states greenhouses sold 969,000 hanging baskets with geraniums, impatiens and petunias in 2012 100,000 more than in 2011. The industry has met other challenges besides shifting consumer preferences. Theres been a disease problem in impatiens, but SunPatiens have become popular, says Swanekamp, who notes homeowners like the new variety that doesnt wilt in full sun. Some standard varieties like begonias and coleus are still in good demand. Mondi says demand for native plants and plants suited for wetland preservation and sustainable landscapes is also growing. Interest

in other perennials, like hostas and hardy mums, is still strong. Centerton Nursery develops and breeds its own daylily varieties, aiming to find colors and looks most interesting to homeowners. Its not easy predicting what kinds of new things people will like we think were doing good if we can hit it 30 or 40 percent of the time, like a good baseball batter, Blew says. In addition to wholesalers, the green industry includes farms selling plants and trees direct to the public. And recently, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture introduced a pilot program for products Made With Jersey Grown materials including birdhouses and feeders made with Jersey Grown wood, and black oil sunflower birdseed marketed by New Jersey Audubon and Jersey Firewood harvested from Jersey trees and kiln-dried to remove any potential pests and provide a better burn. New Jerseys Christmas tree industry is alive and well, with more

trees planted than ever, says Chris Nicholson, president of the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association. The states 6,000 acres of Christmas trees grow on about 1,150 farms; annual tree sales are valued around $2 million. A lot of the local merchants are just hugging me at the end of the season, because people have stopped to do other things in the community during their trip out to the farm to buy a tree, Nicholson says. New Jerseys Christmas tree industry gained national prominence in 2013, when Wyckoffs Christmas Tree Farm in Belvidere was grand champion at the National Christmas Tree Associations Christmas tree contest. Since 1966, that national champion supplies the official White House Christmas tree, displayed in the Blue Room. This is the first time the White House Christmas tree has come from New Jersey, and its a huge honor and milestone for New Jerseys Christmas tree industry, Nicholson says.

Dema r e s t Fa r m s
Since 1886

Hay rid through es th orchard! e

Pick Your Own Peaches, Apples & Pumpkins!

244 Wierimus Rd. Hillsdale, NJ 07642 201-666-0472 www.demarestfarms.com

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New Jersey Agriculture

INTERNATIONAL APPEAL

The Grass Is Always Greener

reen is the color of growth and prosperity. In New Jersey, fields of green sod represent just that. According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, New Jerseys sod industry accounted for 9,425 acres on 40 farms with receipts of $38 million. The turfgrass industry has an annual economic impact that provides 53,588 jobs. In addition to the immense direct impact, turf growers and service providers employ laborers, pay taxes and spend money on expenses such as seed, advertising, fertilizer and equipment. Turf also benefits New Jersey environmentally and aesthetically. Many homeowners are opting to install turf lawns to enhance their property. Private property accounts for 76 percent of total turfgrass acreage. The benefits include the removal of pollinates from water and air, it cools the ground surface better than artificial turf or bare soil, and stabilizes soils, Allen Carter of Tuckahoe Turf Farms says, and for some reason people are happier when they have a nice green lawn at home. Turf is often the focal point during sporting events such as golf tournaments or football games. Tuckahoe Turf Farms supplies notable clients across the Northeast, including professional sports teams such as the Red Sox, Packers, Phillies, Eagles, Ravens, Steelers, Pirates, Nationals and Indians. Many of our clientele demand nothing but the best as our turf

Turfgrass industry benefits economy, environment

Sports elds are a top focus for the turf industry.

winds up on television many nights during the week, Carter says. Those high-profile clients keep us on the cutting edge of seed selection and production. In turn, our landscapers, homeowners and municipal clients benefit. Tuckahoe Turf Farms, despite the recent economic downturn, has modernized its process with the use of automated harvesters in order to increase the quality of their product. Another advancement we are

testing now is a new type of turf, Carter says. We just started harvesting this and only have a limited supply of TTFs Enviro Turf, but this turf will need about a third of the fertilizer, water and mowing compared to the other two types, Bluegrass and Fescue that we grow. Consumers have responded positively to this innovation because it reduces the amount of time and money devoted to maintenance. Hannah Patterson

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ANIMALS & LIVESTOCK

Excellence
New Jersey draws big crowds with horse events
THE SOUND Of HORSE HOOVES BREEZINg
around a training track at sunrise in New Jersey leads to more than just a winners circle. Here, the horse industry translates into real dollars, creating an agricultural ripple effect across the state for everyone from veterinarians to hay farmers. New Jersey is home to the U.S. Equestrian Team, hosts the Hambletonian Stakes, the richest race in the world for trotters, and supports tens of thousands of horses across the state. In fact, New Jersey is one of the leading states in terms of horses per square mile. Showplace Farms, opened in the 1970s, symbolizes the quiet excellence of New Jerseys equine business. A privately owned, standardbred training facility, Showplace Farms is located in Monmouth County. The facility, which houses approximately 400 race horses, valued at $25 million, knows a thing or two about developing equine athletes. For decades, Showplace Farms has produced far too many champions to list. More like a self-contained city, Showplace Farms works with 70 veterinarians, operates a cafeteria and farrier services, and employs approximately 25 full- and parttime staff. Feed dealers, agricultural equipment dealers and tack suppliers are just a few of the supplemental industries that Showplace helps to sustain.And thats not all. The boost to the local economy is undeniable. We are the largest taxpayer in this county, paying $100,000 in taxes, says Bix DiMeo, general manager of the facility for 20 years. While private, Showplace will open its doors to support education and raise awareness about the importance of the equine industry, giving tours to schools and local nonprofits, according to DiMeo. Showplace falls under the auspices of the New Jersey Racing Commission, which regulates the industry, and only licensed trainers are allowed to work at the facility. Dedicated to its clients, Showplace continually seeks ways to improve services. Were always looking at new technology or equipment to offer at the facility. Were all about service to our clients, DiMeo says. Just off Route 195 in Monmouth County sits the Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern, a 185-acre facility that is home to countless show events throughout the year including the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day event held each May. Most weekends and many weekdays from March through November will see the Park bustling with action. Major events that have been held at the Horse Park include the 1994 National Hunter Pony Finals and the 2004 final mandatory outing for horses and riders competing for a place on the U.S. Olympic

Equine

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New Jersey Agriculture

team for three-day eventing. The Park also hosts the annual New Jersey Festival of Horses, a full day of activities designed to enlighten visitors about the horses important role in the states economy. In Logan Township, the Gloucester County DREAM Park opened in 2008, offering a wide range of events throughout the year. Located on 200 acres on the Delaware River, the facility features state-of-the art equipment, a main arena (indoor) with stadium seating, an indoor practice arena, multiple rings, heated stables, sheds, temporary horse boarding, RV parking with electric and water hookups and riding trails. We have a robust agritourism and equine industry along with historic sites, wineries, arts and entertainment, says Robert Damminger, Gloucester County Freeholder Director. Venues like the DREAM Park promote the county and bring visitors to the region, where they spend their recreational dollars. Between 2008 and 2010, Gloucester tourism expenditures increased by $90.5 million, a 17.8 percent increase, the largest tourism growth rate in the state. Shows are booked throughout the year with highlights including the Garden State Paint Horse Club Shows, Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association, Bulls and Barrel Racing, and Hunter Jumper shows.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHANNON BRINKMAN

Equine enthusiasts can nd top-notch facilities at The Horse Park of New Jersey, located in Monmouth County. The facility includes more than 275 stalls and indoor and outdoor arenas for multiple interests.

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agricultural education

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NeW Jersey Agriculture

for Agriculture
Story by Jessica Mozo

Education abounds for students interested in agriculture

offer students class and lab instruction in agriculture, food and/ or natural resources, supervised agricultural experiences outside regular class time, and leadership development through FFA. High school students enrolled in state-approved agricultural instruction programs can also be members of FFA. New Jersey has 35 FFA chapters and 2,600 FFA members. FFA delivers leadership and career development events in a wide range of areas, including leadership conferences for local chapters and state FFA officers. Members are awarded and recognized for excelling in FFA events. FFA is a wonderful tool to help teachers teach agriculture and a wonderful motivator to help students learn about agriculture, Trivette

WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNINg

about the diverse agriculture industry, students start young in New Jersey. Nationwide youth programs such as FFA and 4-H have a huge presence in the Garden State, and schools and career centers across the state focus on preparing young people for careers in agriculture.

Opportunities to educate students about agriculture exist as a result of 43 New Jersey school districts offering Agricultural Education, says Nancy Trivette, the New Jersey Department of Agricultures state Agricultural Education program leader and state FFA advisor. Three-component Agricultural Education Programs

AGRICUlTURAl EDUCATIOn AnD FFA

says. Our members choose careers in any of more than 300 agricultural career areas. Some members become entrepreneurs in production agriculture, the landscape industry or floral industry, to name a few. Others become ag bankers, lawyers, agriculture and science teachers, state ag education staff, 4-H agents, lobbyists, college professors, soil scientists, ag engineers, weed specialists, veterinarians, agronomists and more. New Jersey 4-H is a youth development program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension that teaches leadership, citizenship and life skills to students in kindergarten through one year beyond high school. 4-H members explore agriculture, science, the arts, food and nutrition,

4-H AnD RUTGERS

Agricultural education students, like these at Monmouth County Career Center in Freehold, N.J., learn by doing, which means they learn rst in the classroom, then put their skills to work through hands-on experience.

Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

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Visit Our

advertisers
Agricultural Education FFA New Jersey www.nj.gov/agriculture/ ag_ed/ffa/ American Cranberry Growers Association www.njcranberryblog. blogspot.com Demarest Farms www.demarestfarms.com Farm Credit East www.farmcrediteast.com Garden State Seafood Association www.gardenstateseafood.org Growmark FS LLC www.growmarkfs.com New Jersey Blueberry Industry Council New Jersey Department of Agriculture www.nj.gov/agriculture New Jersey Farm Bureau www.njfb.org New Jersey Soybean Board www.njsoybean.org Plant Food Company Inc. www.plantfoodco.com Quality Koi Company Inc. www.qualitykoi.com Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station www.njaes.rutgers.edu/extension Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey www.njbreds.com Vineland Produce Auction www.vinelandproduce.com

Dedicated to the Sustainable Harvest of New Jerseys Inshore and Offshore Waters
The Garden State Seafood Association is dedicated to sincere and effective representation to protect the interests of New Jersey fishermen and New Jerseys fisheries dependent businesses. Without the New Jersey commercial fishing industry and the communities they support, we lose an important part of our New Jersey coastal legacy. The Garden State Seafood Association is committed to address the critical issues that arise within our industry, in an effort to preserve coastal communities for generations to come.
For additional information, please contact GSSA Executive Director, Greg DiDomenico at gregdiddomenico@gardenstateseafood.org.

www.gardenstateseafood.org

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New Jersey Agriculture

Monmouth County Career Center students completely manage the schools golf course. The career center has one of the few golf courses found on a school property.

camping and outdoor adventure using a fun, learn-by-doing approach. In 2012, approximately 10,849 New Jersey youth were members of organized 4-H clubs. A study by Tufts University found that when compared to other youth, young people with 4-H backgrounds had higher educational achievement and motivation for future education and made more civic contributions to their communities. For many students, 4-H is their first connection to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, giving them access to the valuable resources and scientists at Rutgers. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station is an important part of Rutgers, providing research, extension and education programs that serve New Jersey residents. Since 1880, New Jersey farmers have depended on and trusted the scientific research generated by the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, says Dr. Robert Goodman, executive dean

of agriculture and natural resources at Rutgers. As the states land-grant institution, Rutgers has been New Jerseys source of education about agriculture for 150 years. The tradition continues today as we teach the business of farming to aspiring farmers and ag entrepreneurs enrolled in our growing agriculture and food systems major at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

High school students in New Jersey can prepare for agriculture careers at places such as the Monmouth County Career Center, where students learn on a shared-time basis about landscaping, turf management, greenhouses and floral design. The career center has one of the few golf courses that exist on a school property, and it is totally maintained by students. Students also are in charge of growing plants and flowers in the greenhouses and filling customer orders at the centers own flower shop.

MOnMOUTH COUnTY CAREER CEnTER

Their training often leads to employment after high school. Weve had a number of students placed at golf courses in our area, and we have other graduates working at premier golf courses, says John Neyhart, turf management instructor at Monmouth County Career Center. Other graduates own their own lawn care businesses and work at nurseries and some of the big estates. We are very fortunate to have this program. We hear kids say all the time they wish they could be here all day long. Its a nurturing environment. Cheryl Alfonse and Laurie Neyhart teach floral design at the career center, and their students arrange flowers for weddings, banquets and community events. Some of the kids who come to us may not be successful when given a pencil and paper, but they get other tools in their hands here, and they get so excited about what theyre learning they just take off, Alfonse says. Theres so much agriculture offers, they can always find something theyre good at.

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agricultural education

Farm
on the
Agritourism boosts farm income and public support
NEW JERSEYS AgRITOURISM
provides a perfect opportunity for the growing number of consumers interested in learning about how farms operate, while generating revenue for the states farmers and fostering support for modern agriculture. While many states are following suit, New Jersey is presently leading the agritourism movement, ranking first in the percentage of farm revenue earned from agritourism and home to one in five farms offering agritourism activities, according to Rutgers University. For the Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough, it all started with a few pumpkins on the roadside about 10 years ago. Today, the 1,000-plus-acre farm hosts numerous agritourism activities, from hayrides and school tours to corn mazes, pick-your-own pumpkins and more. Story by Keri Ann Beazell Besides the fun part for families, we really try to make it educational, says farmer Rich Norz, Jr., who was named New Jerseys Outstanding Young Farmer in 2010, by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Today, theres not the association where young children have seen a cow or chicken in person, and we want families to be able to come here and experience that. One of the top reasons local farmers pursue agritourism is to better teach people about the benefits and value of farms. To ensure that children are gaining a valuable learning experience, the Norz Hill Farm works with retired school teachers to develop curriculum utilized during farm tours. Younger students receive basic knowledge about different farm animals, while older students might learn more in-depth information
Left: Visitors to Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough, N.J., get a close view of farm and exotic animals like this zonkey. Right: A family enjoys the pumpkin patch during the Fall Festival at Norz Hill Farm.

Fun

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New Jersey Agriculture

Staff Photos by Jeff Adkins

NJ-AGRICULTURE.COM

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AD INDEX

29 6 38 2 44 4 16 1

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

C4, 12 C3 21 38 C2

NEW JERSEY FARM BUREAU NEW JERSEY SOYBEAN BOARD PLANT FOOD COMPANY INC. QUALITY KOI COMPANY INC. RUTGERS NEW JERSEY

FFA NEW JERSEY AMERICAN CRANBERRY

GROWERS ASSOCIATION DEMAREST FARMS FARM CREDIT EAST GARDEN STATE

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

SEAFOOD ASSOCIATION GROWMARK FS LLC NEW JERSEY BLUEBERRY

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THOROUGHBRED

BREEDERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

INDUSTRY COUNCIL NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT

VINELAND PRODUCE AUCTION

OF AGRICULTURE

On-Farm Agritourism
1. On-farm direct-to-consumer sales (U-pick, U-cut Christmas trees, on-farm markets, Community Supported Agriculture CSAs) 2. Educational tourism (school or group tours, wine tastings, farm work experience) 3. Entertainment (Hay rides, corn mazes, petting zoos, haunted barns) 4. Farm accommodations (Birthday parties, group events, weddings, picnicking, bed-and-breakfasts) 5. Outdoor recreation (horseback riding, hunting, shing, bird watching)

Off-Farm Agricultural Tourism Activities

Farmers and farm families may also participate in agricultural activities that are not physically based on their individual farms, such as: 1. 2. 3. Community Farmers Markets Agricultural Fairs & Festivals Living History Farms & Museums

Source: Rutgers University

that connects with their school science courses. Agritourism also stems from a deep sense of commitment to community. I cant tell you how strong I feel that our community supports us, and we want to give back to our community, Norz says. On the consumer side, knowing where your food comes from and that its locally grown can give a sense of pride. In addition to educational farm tours, New Jerseys agritourism efforts can be seen both on- and off-farm, including pick-your-own produce, agricultural fairs, farmers markets, wine tasting tours, fishing from a charter or head boat along the Jersey shore, and even farm accommodations for weddings, parties or bed-and-breakfasts. The list keeps growing, as an undeniable sense of curiosity, and history, around farm life makes people want to get more involved. Agricultural fairs provide an opportunity for people to get up close and personal with farmers, fresh produce and animals that make up a large part of the agricultural industry in New Jersey. The state has 20 agricultural fairs throughout the summer fair season including the New Jersey State Fair in Sussex County each August. William Walker, New Jersey Department of Agriculture marketing specialist, works with farmers to help them better sell their products and augment their farm income through agritourism. Most often this means helping farmers with marketing, public relations and networking. The added value of public support and supplemental income that agritourism brings is a win-win for the farming enterprise, Walker notes. We want to keep the farm sustainable and viable for the future and agritourism has accomplished that for many of New Jerseys farmers.

Whats Online
Find links to New Jersey agritourism destinations at NJ-agriculture.com.

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New Jersey Agriculture