New Jersey's Late Summer Extends The Season For Jersey-Fresh Produce

Trenton, NJ – "Late August weather was a gift to my farm," says Ronnie Lee, owner of Lee's Turkey Farm in West Windsor.  "Sunny clear days made for late, perfect summer produce that we'll be picking throughout September, even into October, before harvesting fall crops."  Lee's pick-your-own farm has abundant peaches, peppers, eggplant, sweet corn and tomatoes.  "Tomatoes here have been especially great," he says, noting that August temperatures of about three degrees below normal were key to prolonging the summer produce.

Lee's sentiment has been echoed by farmers across the state, according to an informal survey done by New Jersey Farm Bureau.  At Melick's Farm in Oldwick, peaches are plentiful, as are sweet corn, eggplant, peppers and lettuce.  Andy Buzby in Woodstown, Salem County, is just now cutting his eggplant.  The Giamarese farm, in East Brunswick has plenty of tomatoes, peaches, sweet corn, beans, melons, squash, peppers, watermelon, and eggplant.  However, one farmer in Gloucester County reported consistent rain for most of the summer.  Despite its small size, New Jersey has quite varied climates as well as soil conditions.  South Jersey soils tend to be sandy, with good drainage, while several more northern counties have clay-like soils.   

Farm Bureau noted that a late start to the growing season, with April and May temperatures mostly below normal and record rainfalls in June and July, made crop projections for the summer season pretty grim. “Intense rain during June put a lot of pressure on wholesale vegetable production,” says Peter Furey, executive director of the New Jersey Farm Bureau. "Vegetable crops got hit pretty hard."

But they recovered nicely. According to facts put out by the NJ Department of Agriculture, good weather in the last month or so helped to create better growing conditions for later-planted crops and more consistent quality for all crops.

For the past several years, New Jersey summers have extended well into October, making ideal weather for consumers to visit community farmers markets and pick-your-own farms throughout the state.  Farmers now are harvesting mid-summer plantings, making good availability and high quality for tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces and other greens.  "Our peaches, which are considered some of the best in the country, got a late start, " says Furey.  "But, they matured in good quantities and are still plentiful and available throughout September."

In addition to that noted above, produce that continues to be available in good quantities includes spinach, arugula, basil, beets, cabbage, cilantro, collards, dandelions, dill, eggplant, leeks, and peppers. Good fall weather is especially favorable for escarole, endive, kale, radishes, Swiss chard.  Pumpkins, planted in early summer, seem to have weathered wet conditions and look good on several farms surveyed.  Other traditional autumn crops, such as turnips, white and sweet potatoes, autumn squashes such as acorn, butternut, and patticake also appear to be in good condition and plentiful.

Several websites provide information on where and when to find community farmers markets, farm stands and pick your own farms. Farm Bureau's Produce Directory at www.njfb.org/local foods/produce directory; NJ Farmers Direct Marketing Association's www.visitnjfarms.org; and the NJDA's www.jerseyfresh.nj.gov have good lists.

For further information, contact the New Jersey Farm Bureau, at The Farmhouse, 168 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.  Phone 609-393-7163; fax 609-393-7072; email  mail@njfb.org; website  www.njfb.org

The New Jersey Farm Bureau is a non-profit member organization of 11,000+ farmers and farm-related individuals within the Garden State.  It is the only organization solely dedicated to representing the grass- roots interests and directives of its members in educating all levels of government and the public on the farm community’s policies and positions.  The Farm Bureau also takes a lead in seeking out initiatives, activities and ventures to  enhance the profitability of producer members and ensure the viability of agriculture in New Jersey — the Garden State for Good Reason—our farms.

Source: The New Jersey Farm Bureau