BLOOMFIELD, NJ — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher visited Jack's Super Foodtown here Friday morning, Aug. 11, to highlight the state's bounty of fresh produce items, many of which are currently at the peak of their season.

"We're appreciative of everything you do here at this store," Fisher said at the event, which was attended by several staff members of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the owner of this Foodtown store and members of his team, officials of Allegiance Retail Services LLC and legislators from the state of New Jersey.At Jack's Super Foodtown in Bloomfield, NJ, were Douglas H. Fisher, New Jersey's secretary of agriculture; Tom Beaver, director of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's Division of Marketing & Development; Jack Shakoor, president of Jack's Super Foodtown; Adam Shapiro, the store's director of operations; Victor Savanello, senior director of produce and floral at Allegiance Retail Services; and Dean Holmquist, Allegiance's vice president of perishables.

"Jersey Fresh season is in full swing, and our farmers are continuing to provide outstanding product to consumers, grown close to where they live and picked at the peak of freshness," Fisher noted in his remarks. "The partnership with Foodtown supermarkets plays an important role in helping us deliver outstanding quality fruits and vegetables to consumers."

Jack's Super Foodtown, which was constructed to blend into an urban setting, opened in November 2015. It is a "comfortable and convenient 26,000 square feet with two entrances, one on Glenwood Avenue and the other from the parking deck," according to the NJDA. This store was part of new construction, part of a revitalization of downtown Bloomfield. The produce department greets shoppers from whichever entrance they use.

The Bloomfield area holds special significance for Victor Savanello, senior director of produce and floral at Iselin, NJ-headquartered Allegiance Retail Services, a retailer-owned cooperative which serves more than 80 locations in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania under the name Foodtown Inc.

"This is my hometown," Savanello told The Produce News. "I grew up here. So this store is near and dear to me."

Jack Shakoor is president of Jack's Super Foodtown, one of four stores he owns. In speaking at the event, he lauded the efforts of everyone who works at this location, specifically mentioning the talent and leadership of Adam Shapiro, who is director of operations here.

The produce department was filled with big, beautiful displays of New Jersey produce, with signage placed on the shelves and hanging from the ceiling, proclaiming that local, "Jersey Fresh" produce was there for shoppers to enjoy.

To emphasize the local aspect even further, some New Jersey items were placed right next to the finished product that was made with those items. For example: peach pudding cake, blueberry loaf cakes, cornbread and zucchini bread were placed right next to peaches, blueberries, sweet corn and zucchini from the Garden State.

"We believe the trend of customers wanting to know where their food is grown, and that they want it from a local source, will continue," Savanello noted in his remarks. "Along with our customers, we understand the importance of supporting the local economy by sourcing our food from farmers and growers right here in New Jersey."