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SECRETARY
CELEBRATES DIVERSE MONMOUTH COUNTY AGRICULTURE
Kuperus Visits Highlight Jersey Fresh, Jersey Grown,
Jersey Seafood in County
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(TRENTON) – Monmouth County residents don’t have to go far
to find fresh, locally grown produce and nursery
stock and freshly caught seafood. New Jersey Agriculture
Secretary Charles M. Kuperus and county agriculture
officials today toured Monmouth County and observed
a diverse and thriving agricultural industry, visiting
businesses representing the Department of Agriculture’s Jersey
Fresh (www.jerseyfresh.nj.gov), Jersey
Grown (www.jerseygrown.nj.gov),
and Jersey Seafood (www.jerseyseafood.nj.gov) brands.
“Monmouth County has it all when it comes to farming and fishing, from
beautiful nurseries with a vast array of plants, to fields of sweet corn and
other produce, and pastures of grazing horses, to a fishing port bringing in
a wide array of seafood,” said Secretary Kuperus. “Monmouth County
is a good example of how agriculture enhances our quality of life in New Jersey
and how towns and counties need to plan for agriculture to keep the state green
and growing.”
Monmouth County might be familiar to many for its 27 miles of beaches,
but is home to 47,198 acres of farmland. The County ranks second in
the state in the number of nurseries and nursery stock acreage, and
ranks fourth in acres harvested for both bell peppers and sweet corn.
Monmouth has the largest number of horses and ponies in the state and
is second in number of horse farms.
The food, restaurant and seafood industries figure prominently in Monmouth
County. One of the state’s six fishing ports, Belford, is located
on the northern Monmouth County coast and there are many seafood restaurants
along the shore, which feature fresh catches, supporting the seafood
industry.
The Secretary’s “Monmouth County Celebration of Agriculture
Tour” included four stops in Monmouth County:
Four Seasons Nursery and Landscape, Englishtown -- First generation
farmers Roy and Scott Daum began their business in 1972 and now farm
70 acres of nursery stock.
Twin Pond Farm, Howell – The DeGregorio family
farms 120 acres of produce and nursery stock. They have a garden center
and farm stand, which has operated for 40 years. The family’s
tradition of farming actually dates back 70 years, when their grandfather
arrived from Italy in Brooklyn and began a vegetable farm that he eventually
brought to New Jersey.
Delicious Orchards, Colts Neck – A retail market well
known for its home-baked pies and apple cider doughnuts, Delicious
Orchards has been in business for 50 years. They sell locally grown
and other produce in their market, operate a mail order business for
their fruit and baked goods, and sell pick-your-own raspberries and
strawberries on their 35 acres.
Bahrs Landing and Seafood Restaurant, Highlands – Established
in 1917 by John and Florence Bahrs, the restaurant is owned and operated
today by fourth generation great-grandson Jay Cosgrove and his father
Ray, who is the president of the New Jersey Restaurant Association.
Supporters of Jersey Seafood, the Cosgroves can seafood soup and sell
it all over the country.
The Jersey Fresh promotional and quality standard program
for New Jersey grown produce and other agricultural products has been
in place for 21 years. The Jersey Grown program for horticultural products
certifies that plants, flowers, trees and shrubs are grown in New Jersey
and are pest and disease-free. Jersey Seafood highlights the state’s
seafood and aquaculture industries and will soon be a brand of fresh,
bagged clams. To find out more about the department’s branding
programs, visit the New Jersey Department of Agriculture website at: www.state.nj.us/agriculture.
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