New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, Al Murray, said the agency will be exhibiting at the New England Produce Council Produce & Floral Expo 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel & Spa on Sept. 11.

“Joe Atchison, agricultural coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will join me at the expo to meet and greet visitors and exhibitors alike,” said Murray. “On behalf of the agency, we will be promoting New Jersey’s produce industry as well as the ‘Jersey Fresh’ advertising and promotional program to the attendees.”

“Jersey Fresh,” now in its 30th season, has long been known as a pace-setter for local and state-grown promotion and marketing programs, and has been instrumental in setting an example to help other states organize their own local programs.

It’s hard to beat New Jersey’s luscious Freestone peaches.“And because New Jersey produce products enjoy such a stellar reputation throughout the eastern seaboard, the ‘Jersey Fresh’ program provides a perfect venue for retailers to inform their customers about the availability of fresh, quality farm products produced in the ‘Garden State,’” Murray added.

The “Jersey Fresh” program got an extra boost in early August when the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s marketing and development division announced that Christine Fries had joined the team as an agricultural marketing specialist. Fries will support the NJDA and “Jersey Fresh” brand by providing marketing advice and assistance, supporting market expansion and development programs and participating in the design and implementation of promotional and educational materials and activities. She will also develop and manage the “Jersey Fresh” social media plan.

Fries is a marketing and communications professional with experience in developing and implementing plans and initiatives that support and enhance business strategies while aligning with the brand. She was previously a marketing contractor for American Water Resources, a subsidiary of American Water. Before that she served as vice president for Sun National Bank holding several marketing and communications positions.

Murray explained that New England historically remains New Jersey’s second-largest market for the state’s produce. 

“This show provides a very good opportunity for us to maintain industry contacts within this important market sector,” said Murray. 

“The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has exhibited at the NEPC Expo since its inception, and in addition to making contacts, this show also gives us the opportunity to hear feedback about New Jersey’s industry. In turn, we take that information back to our farmers and it thus allows them to better serve their customers.”