NJDA's Al Murray set to retire
NJDA's Al Murray set to retire
Alfred W. Murray, whose distinguished career with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture spans 33 years, will be retiring from the department this fall. Murray, who will be 55 years old this June 26, will officially announce July 1 his decision to retire from the department on Nov. 30.
Al Murray
"I absolutely love this industry and I love what I do," Murray told The Produce News Monday, April 11. "I've accomplished all I can here. It's just time for new challenges and new opportunities."
Murray, a resident of Audubon, NJ, and who served as mayor of that community from May 1989 to May 1997, joined the New Jersey Department of Agriculture in October 1983 as a marketing specialist. He was named bureau chief of the department's Bureau of Market Expansion in 1995, and director of the Division of Markets in 2000. He added the title assistant secretary of agriculture in 2007, and currently serves under New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher.
Arthur R. Brown Jr. was the state's secretary of agriculture when Murray first came aboard, and Murray said that his proudest accomplishment in state government was working with Brown and others to develop the Jersey Fresh Promotional Program.
"Starting from the ground floor and making the Jersey Fresh program a success — and a nationally recognized program — I take great pride in that," Murray declared.
Murray acknowledged that since he will be only 55 when he "retires" this November from the department, he definitely wants to stay engaged in some area of agriculture or produce. "My goal is to stay in the agricultural sector," he said. "Maybe merchandising or marketing. I love this industry, and I've made lifelong friendships."
But he has no firm plans beyond that. "I have no idea what's going to happen," he admitted with a mixture of both uncertainty and excitement. "But I can't wait!"
