At the end of October, Agricultural Secretary Charles Kuperus announced that he would resign surprising many. There's a pretty good story on his tenure and why he's leaving in the Philadelphia Inquirer including some of the back story regarding disagreements over the structure and funding of the Department. The board Vice President wants more of a fighter as Secretary and worries what will happen if they don't have it:
If the department's financial problems aren't fixed, "we will be left in the Garden State without a Department of Agriculture, and that's like having a church without a priest,"
With the way things are going in this state, I wouldn't worry so much about the priest as I would be guarding the holy water because Trenton is very thirsty and looking for just about anything that will do the trick. I understand that they've worried about not having a separate Department of Agriculture and what message that would send, but while they're trying to protect the separate structure they may end up losing their resources to fund it. What's worse, a church without a priest or no church at all?
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.
(A thoughtful look at the future of New Jersey's farms. -promoted by SJBrian - promoted by SJBrian)
A thoughtful look at the future of New Jersey's farms. -promoted by SJBrian
As a non-native New Jerseyan, I was astonished to find that, contrary to my preconception of the state, just a few miles from Philadelphia in Gloucester, Burlington and Camden (western) counties, there are dozens of working farms and agriculturally-centered areas. It is a treasure in the state and needs to be preserved; but New Jersey farms are facing some rather difficult odds of survival, from market forces outside of their control to federal policies that favor crops and farms from other parts of the nation. I view farms and farming issues as having import to progressives not just because of a general ethos of environmentalism in progressive thinking but also because of long-term sustainability of humanity that is connected with the preservation of land and farms.
As the Farm Bill takes center stage on Capitol Hill, our state's Department of Ag isn't taking any chances. Take a trip to a Garden State vineyard with us and see what I mean.
Forgive the video quality, it was a candle-lit cellar. Also, sorry to get all Andy Rooney at the end there but, well, in vino veritas!
See also: Blue Jersey interviews NJ Sec of Ag Charles Kuperus
Farmer Johnson, click pic to enlarge the fall colors
Mother Nature was in resplendent autumnal form today at the venerable Johnson's Corner Farm in BurlCo, South Jersey. It was an ideal backdrop for celebrating the growing roll of agriculture (in this case agri-tourism) in our state's economy.
Thanks to a just-released report from Rutgers University the economic impact is now easy to quantify. Secretary of Agriculture Charles Kuperus came down to Johnson's Farm to announce the good news and the numbers are impressive: agritourism puts over $57m into the state's coffers annually. And that number is growing.
First, a baseline definition of agritourism is, according the Rutgers study, "the business of establishing farms as travel destinations for educational and recreational purposes."
And I know what you're thinking, $57.5 million bucks is a lot of hayrides. But it's a lot more than that. There's the ol' pick your own Jersey fresh (whatever), U-cut Christmas tree, bird watching, fishing, B-n-B's, petting zoos, wineries, tours, et al. Oh and how could I forget the ubiquitous corn maze?
And there's more good news, according to NJ Secretary of State Nina Wells who cited another interesting nugget from the Rutgers report. For every agritourism dollar spent, an additional $0.58 is generated in the community surrounding the farm. Think businesses like restaurants, craft stores, etc. It's adds up. Another $33m worth.
As noted by the report's primary author Brian Schilling the calculus is pretty simple: Good cliamte+good soil+dense population = agri-tourism boom. It's already happening which is pretty cool when you think about it.
Note to readers: last week on Blue Jersey BlogTalk Radio i lamented that Jerseyfresh peaches are no longer in season. I was wrong about that. You still have a few weeks to get your peach on.
The first in a series of videoblogs with top cabinet officials in Trenton.
This week, Agriculture Secretary Charles Kuperus discusses locally grown goodies, "food miles," environmental stewardship, agri-economics, green energy and more.
And...for the aurally inclined - you can get the audio version here.
Or - take it on the go as a podcast by subscribing through iTunes, or your own favorite podcatcher. You don't need an iPod - any MP3 player will do, even that cheap one you got at Columbus Fleamarket!
(Hat tip to our podcast wiz Rob for the quick turnaround time on everything podcastable!)
As you all probably know already, the legislature is currently on break until after the election. Fortunately for me, that presents the opportunity for exploration in Trenton beyond the statehouse.
So one morning I decided it would be interesting to reach out to Governor Corzine's cabinet members -- one at a time -- and connect them to the Blue Jersey community.
Being a huge fan of our state's farmers market culture, I was particularly keen to chat with our Secretary of Agriculture Charles Kuperus. I thought it would be timely to discuss issues including: locally grown goodies, "food miles," environmental stewardship, agri-economics, green energy and more.
I will be editing the ~20 minute interview for your videoblogging consumption. Hopefully by tomorrow morning. I am convinced that you will find Sec. Kuperus' messge to be a compelling one. Frankly it's hard to imagine a more passionate spokesman for the cause. I can't wait to share this with you guys, but in the meantime, here's a little lighthearted nugget to chew on.
