Kuperus' Garden State

<crickets> (0.00 / 0)

n/t

Jay_Lass on Twitter.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 17:25:53 PM CDT

Nice to see (0.00 / 0)

Blue Jersey broadening its horizons.  If you ate today, thank a farmer.

To hell with what she wants, let's make Rosi Efthim the next DSC chair.

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by: Thurman Hart @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 17:26:03 PM CDT

nice interview (0.00 / 0)

I really had no idea that 17% of our land is used for agriculture.  I look forward to future interviews you do.  I like the videoblog interviews.  thanks jay

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by: Jason Springer @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 20:03:57 PM CDT

excellent (0.00 / 0)

Thank you Jay and Secretary Kuperus for a wonderful conversation on farming in New Jersey.  I certainly can testify that the Jersey Fresh label means food that is much tastier. 


I have to think of a witty signature about Frank LoBiondo

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by: Hopeful @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 20:56:03 PM CDT

Fantastic Interview (0.00 / 0)

I finally had time to watch the whole video.  It was great! 

When I graduated Rutgers in 1988 with a degree in Agricultural Engineering  - I was only one of TWO (2) graduates with that major then.  I got kidded by a lot of other engineers who did not know agriculture is a big part of NJ.  It is so nice to see that the folks in charge of NJ agriculture actually get it and are excited about it and trying to encourage new people in this field. 

There is a new mag out called Garden Plate which tells you which restaurants use Jersey Fresh produce. It's a great resource. http://www.gardenpla...

One of my favorite Northern NJ farms is Demarest Farm - easy to get to from the Parkway. They took advantage of NJ's efforts to save farmland. You can't walk by their peaches without the fragrance overwhelming you to buy.  They also have pick your own days in the apple orchards and BBQ nites with live music.

I also was really excited to hear Secretary Kuperus talk about recycling used vegetable oil when ethanol came up.  We DON'T want Monsanto turning this into the soybean state - especially with all the diners churning out perfectly good french fry smelling fuel.

Great questions, Jay.  Looking forward to the next interviews.

P.S. Jeff, I still owe you homemade jam.  Jersey Blueberry?

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 at 22:26:42 PM CDT

Jersey Blueberry (0.00 / 0)

mmmmm... sounds delicious!

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 11:02:13 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

NJ Agriculture (0.00 / 0)

There are some great farms and farmers markets in New Jersey.

Anyone ever go to the Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley? This guy raises sheep and sells the cheese nationwide. Amazing place!!!
http://www.valleyshe...

Across the street is Long Valley brewpub- great beer brewed in small batches right here in New Jersey.

We have some great honey in the cabinet from a Califon beer farm.

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by: jerseyandproud @ Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 10:28:54 AM CDT

Happy Valley (0.00 / 0)

When I worked out in Hackettstown years ago, a lot of the folks I worked with lived in Long Valley.  It was such a beautiful place we used to call it Happy Valley because it was such an unbelievably nice place to live.  The Brewpub was a favorite of ours too.  Very highly recommended!

Thanks for the link.  I am always looking for places that sell water buffalo and sheep milk cheeses and yogurts.  Nice to know we have some right here in NJ. 

An excellent article in Harpers called "The Oil We Eat" extolled the virtues of eating low on the food chain - animals like bison and sheep that only eat grass save us from using fossil fuel to grow the grain to feed beef.  If we can get these foods local we are saving even more food miles and reducing the need for foreign oil.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 13:36:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great link (0.00 / 0)

I just noticed on the link that they sell a Basque type sheeps milk cheese.  I just bought a wheel at Whole Foods that came from France. Next time I will buy it local for sure.  That stuff is $20 bucks a pound imported.  It is amazing stuff.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 13:49:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The owner (0.00 / 0)

The owner Eran is a real character. He gives the tours himself, while taking breaks to run into the production area and mix ingredients, and giving orders to his employees, and a bunch of other things. Really nice and knowledgeable guy.

They're having a fall food festival soon with cheese and produce from NJ and out of state small producers
http://www.valleyshe...

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by: jerseyandproud @ Mon Aug 27, 2007 at 13:34:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]