Jersey Freshness, bog and bush edition

by: Jay Lassiter

Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 07:16:07 PM EST

Jersey Fresh

It's good news on the agriculture front today as New Jersey's blueberry farmers record a record setting year!

Cranberry production was bountiful as well which is good news for all New Jersey.

Noted NJ Secretary of Ag, Charles Kuperus,

"the demand for blueberries is increasing, not only for their good taste and versatility, but due to the reported health benefits of eating them. We expect a continued consumer interest in blueberries and for our blueberry farms to keep pace with the demand."

Over $90m worth last year alone! ka-ching. Currently New Jersey ranks 2nd in the nation (behind Michigan) as the top blueberry producer.

And thanks to last year's warm ad dry spring, the cranberry yield was also robust: 530,000 barrels worth. That's enough anti-oxidants to keep us all looking young for a while, eh?

I found my thrill with some blueberry compote

So long as the farmers stay viable the less developmental pressure they are gonna feel. Which means they can keep making delicious, local, healthy provisions for all the rest of us.

Let's make this a jersey fresh open thread.

Click pic to enlarge the succulence.

Jay Lassiter :: Jersey Freshness, bog and bush edition

Tags: Jersey fresh, Cranberries, new jersey, Charles Kuperus, (All Tags)

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Jersey Freshness, bog and bush edition | 7 comments

Mmmmm Succulence! (4.00 / 2)

So global warming is good for cranberries? We will take over the world!

by: Thurman Hart @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 03:22:49 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

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too bad (0.00 / 0)

that the stories that it's also good for Poison Ivy, turned out to be true. ugh.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 03:36:21 AM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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the crops (0.00 / 0)

We've got some of the best blueberries in the country right here in New Jersey, and I try to bring local fruit to my extended family in other parts of the country as much as possible. I'm noticing more blueberry and pick-your-own farms along 295 and its by-ways, too. And the post doesn't even mention how good our peaches (second only to Georgia in U.S. crop production) are, too!

by: Martin @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 04:17:10 AM UTC

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i just wish there were more (0.00 / 0)

organic farms in jersey. if anyone has a link to organic jersey farms and pick your own i would love to have it.

by: jerseygirl @ Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 04:35:32 AM UTC

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local local local (4.00 / 2)

I think organic is the prime choice in a vacuum, but organic food shipped in from California and Chile is a lot less appealing than locally grown (non-organic) fare.

Local means less food miles and less time to lose its optimal freshness.

That said, I ran into Sec of Ag Kuperus in the statehouse the other day and he was all too happy to remark that all the things we used to advocate (local, organic, sustainable, et al) are suddenly a lot less fringy. Further, it's becoming mainstream.

activist for hire.