Annual BBQ at Demarest Farm

Always a highlight on the Eastern Produce Council calendar, the 15th annual Jersey Fresh BBQ, held May 20 at Demarest Farms, here, did not disappoint, as attendees gathered on a crisp and sunny spring evening to network and hear the latest updates on Garden State crops.

Following the cocktail hour and ahead of the buffet dinner that featured New Jersey-grown items, EPC Vice President Gary Roselli of Allegiance Retail Services welcomed the crowd to the 15th annual EPC BBQ and noted that Jersey Fresh remains the premier state-sponsored marketing program for agriculture.

“The Jersey Fresh program is a true testament to the quality of New Jersey produce and the EPC is happy to partner with the NJDA,” he said.

Next up, Bonnie Lundblad of Sunny Valley International gave crop updates for both blueberries and peaches.

“Great news for blues is that the bees did their job this year, as we had the best pollination in the last three to four years,” said Lundblad. “The sizing is looking great, and we’re looking at an early start on June 6, with the full crop coming on a week later by June 13.”

She added that there will be plenty of volume on Garden State blueberries this season, so retailers should start promoting heavily.

“We’re right in your backyard, so you can’t get any fresher,” she said. “We’re ready for another great year on blues!”

Lundblad then pivoted to the peach crop, which she said was helped by the favorable weather this year. Unfortunately, other growing regions experienced the same favorable weather, so there will be a lot of fruit in the pipeline this summer.

“But you can’t beat New Jersey peaches for freshness,” said Lundblad. “We’ve proven over the last few years that we can supply the freshest product, and our growers have been working very hard pruning the trees so that they can offer the sizes that you want.”

She added that the peach crop would follow typical timing this year, with a late-June start and product running through Labor Day.

“We really appreciate your support,” she said. “It’s so important for our growers.”

Providing the vegetable crop update was Joe Atchison, assistant New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, who said that perfect weather is setting the stage for a strong summer season.

“All crops are looking outstanding, and we anticipate no issues,” he said. “We want to make sure consumers are getting what they want, and that is local product.”

Atchison added that Jersey Fresh promotions are in the process of rolling out, including billboards on highways and sampling stations at popular beach destinations in the state.

Finally, the EPC announced the winner of the 12th annual James and Theresa Nolan Family Foundation and EPC Scholarship, which this year was awarded to Palmer Joseph, a student at the University of Richmond and son of Victor Joseph of Victor Joseph & Son.

The next EPC event is the 50th annual golf outing, to be held June 10 at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, NJ. The council’s next meeting is the tailgate dinner at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 16, co-hosted by the Idaho Potato Commission, Zespri and Oppy.

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