Jersey Fresh - There's Nothing Quite Like It

There’s nothing quite like the smell of a farm market. The aroma of fresh-picked Jersey corn, tomatoes, peppers, melons and other fruits and vegetables is somewhat nostalgic. It takes you back to the produce that your grandparents picked from their backyard garden. The big difference is that it tastes so fresh.

We are very fortunate here in New Jersey because we have so much of everything especially when it comes to farm fresh vegetables and fruit.

Take advantage of all the freshly picked New Jersey produce on sale at farm markets throughout the state at the height of the growing season.

As New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher said while he visited a Jersey farm, "You can't get any fresher than this."

The state's agriculture industry is worth about $1 billion annually to farmers. Fisher said the figure increases significantly when coupled with all the products New Jersey produce helps create. Then it increases to billions and billions of dollars.

                                                                                                                                                                                      When New Jerseyans think about how fortunate they are to have fresh produce grown nearby, they should remember to shop at local farm markets that help local farmers stay in business.

At the last full farm census taken in 2007, New Jersey had more than 10,300 farms encompassing more than 733,000 acres.

State agriculture officials said New Jersey produces more than 100 different types of fruits and vegetables. The state's main cash crops continue to be blueberries, peaches and tomatoes, with last year's tomato crop alone totaling about $31 million. Those famous Jersey tomatoes and corn are the crops customers ask for most.

So remember to support your local farmers by shopping for the freshest, tastiest produce you can get at farm markets throughout the state. To ensure you’re getting  Jersey Fresh products, look for the Jersey Fresh logo when you shop.