SPRING IN JERSEY - AGRICULTURE
If you ask people to think of states that they associate with agriculture, most will think of the nation's heartland. Big wheat fields, big corn fields, etc... But they should also be thinking of New Jersey. That's right, Jersey. Actually, agriculture is New Jersey's third largest industry, which generates about 65 billion dollars a year! That's a lot of money for such a small state. There are more than 9,000 farms that lay claim to Jersey as home, covering over 715,000 acres of farmland.
Like this beautiful farm in Hopewell, NJ (below)
Our tiny state produces an abundance of corn, potatoes, hay, soybeans, tomatoes, strawberries, apples, and nursery stock. We also rank 5th in the nation for blueberry production, 4th in the nation for peach production, and 3rd in spinach, bell peppers, and cranberry production. Also, New Jersey has a grading system in place to ensure that all of its fresh fruits and vegetables are of the highest quality. That is what I love so much about my home state. The beautiful farms and the abundance of fresh produce available from spring through fall, and the many, many roadside produce stands, where I can hop out of the car, and grab everything I need for a home cooked, farm to table meal. I wouldn't have it any other way.
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