CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION KICKS OFF JERSEY GROWN SEASON
New Jersey Nurseries, Garden Centers Part of Post-Sandy Rebuilding Effort
For Immediate Release: April 8, 2013
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954
(FREEHOLD) 鈥� New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today kicked off the spring planting season by urging residents and businesses to patronize the state鈥檚 nurseries and garden centers.
Secretary Fisher visited Brock Farms Home and Garden World in Freehold, one of Central Jersey鈥檚 largest garden centers and long-time supporter of the Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Jersey Grown marketing program for the state鈥檚 half billion dollar a year horticultural industry.
鈥淲hen planting your spring gardens this year, visit your nearby nursery or garden center and look for Jersey Grown annual bedding plants, perennials, shrubs and trees,鈥� said Secretary Fisher.聽 鈥淭hese businesses at the shore and throughout the state are open and here to help during the Superstorm Sandy rebuilding process.鈥�
Secretary Fisher with Ed Brock, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, Freeholder Serena DiMaso, Freeholder John Curley, Freehold Mayor Barbara McMorrow and Dominick Mondi of the Sexy真人NLA
鈥淯se the Jersey Grown website,鈥� said Fisher.聽 鈥淚t is the most up-to-date and easy to navigate resource for gardeners who are interested in buying locally grown for their landscaping needs.鈥澛�
To promote the industry, the Jersey Grown branding program was created and over the years expanded so it now includes trees, shrubs, flowers, annuals, perennials, Christmas trees, firewood, wood and black oil sunflower seed for birdseed.
Brock Farms has been a certified Jersey Grown grower since the inception of the program.聽 The business was first started by Ed and Jean Brock, opening the Colts Neck retail outlet first, then the Freehold location in 1958. Freehold also serves as a re-wholesale center.聽 The company farms more than 600 acres of nursery products in Bridgeton, as well as 200 acres in Monmouth County.
鈥淲e have been providing the highest quality plant materials and landscape supplies to the horticulture industry for over 50 years,鈥� said Paul Witter, Brock Farms Manager.聽 鈥淏usiness is improving currently and the weather so far has been cooperative for harvest.聽 Some demand has been seen for plant material due to Sandy, but it鈥檚 still early in the recovery process to gauge any impact on the horticulture industry.鈥�
Steve Wagner, General Manager of Brock Farms in Bridgeton was named the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association鈥檚 Nurseryman of the Year for 2012.
"Being a part of the Jersey Grown program has always made sense to us," said Wagner, who also serves on the Sexy真人NLA Board of Directors. 聽"New Jersey has some of the best conditions for growing nursery plants in the country, and this program only serves to further highlight the quality and success of New Jersey's nursery industry."
All growers are encouraged to join the Jersey Grown brand.聽 There are many benefits, such as identifying their products in the marketplace; capitalizing on the popularity of Jersey Fresh; and it is high quality.
To find Jersey Grown products, look for signage and the Jersey Grown logo.聽 Supporting local growers and outlets helps to rebuild the Garden State and the lives of all New Jersey residents.
