New Jersey Department of Agriculture
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture was established in 1926 to oversee programs that serve virtually all New Jersey citizens. One of the Department’s major priorities is to promote, protect and serve the Garden State’s diverse agriculture and agribusiness industries. The Jersey Fresh program, the very first state advertising, promotional and quality grading program originally launched in 1984 to help farmers inform consumers about the availability and variety of fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey, has increased consumers' awareness of the importance of supporting local and has become the benchmark for other states to initiate their own state-grown agricultural marketing programs. New Jersey grows more than 100 different varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs. We are also ranked nationally in the top 10 as producer of eggplant, bell peppers, spinach, tomatoes, cranberries, asparagus, peaches, blueberries, squash, cucumbers and sweet corn.