ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Agricultural interests across the Garden State gathered the second week in February for the 2016 New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show and New Jersey's State Agricultural Convention.

The event took place Feb. 9-11 at a new venue this year: Harrah's Resort & Waterfront Conference Center, here.

This was the 101st State Agricultural Convention, and this year marks the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's 100th anniversary. This was also the fifth year of co-locating the annual convention with those of the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey Blueberry Association, as well as the Garden State Wine Growers Association and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station of Rutgers University.Al Murray, Bill Walker, Christine Fries and Joe Atchison of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture at the trade show. View more photos here.

A large number of people, including growers, shippers, retailers, wholesalers, delegates and government staff members, enjoyed various portions of the three-day combined event, such as the general sessions, the workshops and the trade show, according to Al Murray, New Jersey's assistant secretary of agriculture. "I would estimate that about 1,200 people [will come] through the doors over the three days," Murray told The Produce News on Wednesday evening, Feb. 10.

Events got under way Tuesday morning with the opening of the Vegetable Growers Association's trade show. The Exhibitors Social that evening gave attendees a chance to relax before one of the highlights of the day: the annual auction for charity put on by the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey.

This year, the auction raised over $9,800 for the Officer Down New Jersey organization, according to Joe Maugeri, president of the growers association, who also was the auctioneer at the event. Officer Down New Jersey helps law enforcement officers hurt in the line of duty and their families in the state.

On Wednesday morning, Martin Bullock, president of the State Board of Agriculture, welcomed the delegates to the event. He began by asking for a moment of silence in honor of Charles M. Kuperus, the state's sixth secretary of agriculture, who served from 2002 to 2008 and who died Dec. 30, 2015, at the age of 57.

Douglas H. Fisher, the state's current secretary of agriculture, then delivered the annual State-of-the-State of Agriculture.

Next up was Edward Kee, Delaware's secretary of agriculture, who took office around the same time as Fisher. "There are a lot of similarities between Delaware and New Jersey," said Kee. "We're proud to be a neighbor of New Jersey. What a great leader Doug is."

Kee said that any successful agricultural industry "all starts with the farms." He noted "certain commonalities among farmers," regardless of the state in which they work. "They are very resilient, they are very observant, they are very independent, and you absolutely love what you do."

The Delaware secretary cited the importance of the farming industry in creating jobs, and said that "farming is good for the environment." He concluded by noting that as world population continues to grow, the importance of a successful farming industry must be maintained. The key, he stated, "is to keep farmers profitable."

Defining locally grown

Next on the agenda was a panel discussion on a proposed locally grown rule in the state of New Jersey. Jack Rabin, associate director of farm programs at the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, moderated the panel, which was comprised of Kurt Alstede of Alstede Farms, Hillary Barile of Rabbit Hill Farms, Dr. Lewis DeEugenio Jr. of Summit City Farms, James Giamarese of Giamarese Farms, Joseph Marino of Sun Valley Orchards and Vic Savanello of Allegiance Retail Services.

The proposed rule, which was originally announced last May and which would impose various fines, would "establish a standard for labeling farm products 'local' when sold in New Jersey." The language continued, "To be labeled, marketed or identified for sale in New Jersey as 'local,' farm products must be grown or produced in New Jersey or must be clearly identified as grown or produced in another specific locality and state of origin when that other state is not New Jersey."

Alstede, DeEugenio and Giamarese spoke in favor of the proposal; Barile, Marino and Savanello spoke against it.

Barile said that "we recognize the rise in locally grown," but that the rule "would make it more challenging." She said that "segregating regional produce would be costly and lead to retailers moving away from marketing [products] as locally grown." She added, "The Jersey Fresh program has been a positive tool for decades. The Jersey Fresh program clearly denotes a Jersey-grown product." She urged the delegates to "please consider what is positive for the most people."

Giamarese noted that the word local can mean different things to different people. To some it may mean product from 300 to 400 miles away, to others it may mean "a day's drive." The proposed rule "is a chance for us to define what locally grown means," he said. "I don't think this will be a big burden."

Savanello said, "I remember how exciting the Jersey Fresh program has always been. Consumers want to support their neighbors, and that's the best way to market produce." But this rule, which would greatly narrow the definition of locally grown, would hurt supermarkets, he said. "I would go to any length to get New Jersey product," he declared. "But it's not always available [due to weather and other factors]. We have to give our customers the best." He concluded, "This is a very dangerous proposal."

Marino said, "We can't market all of our product here in New Jersey. We are a big supporter of the Jersey Fresh program. We believe in Jersey Fresh. We always have. I'd hate to see surrounding states follow this rule [with one of their own]. "This proposal is not a productive extension to what we have. This is a rule that's just not needed. We already have Jersey Fresh."

Alstede asked, "Who's going to own the definition of locally grown?" Currently, "it's out there and can be defined in many ways. We need to own it; we can't let others define it."

After the panel members left, a motion was made to table the resolution, at least for a while. A couple of hours later, an amendment was added to the original proposal to drop the idea of defining locally grown, which would basically direct the State Board of Agriculture to abandon the original proposed rule.

The subject was introduced again, and this time the delegates voted almost 2-1 in favor of the amendment, i.e. not to support the original proposed rule.

Afternoon and evening

The next event was the New Jersey Agricultural Society's luncheon, held during the New Jersey combined conventions. Kristina Guttadora, executive director of the society, spoke about the organization's programs, and Rob Swanekamp, vice president of the society, presented the Tony Russo Farmers Marketing Award to Grasso Girls Farm Market. And at the 50-50 raffle, the society raised $1,520.

During the afternoon session of the State Agricultural Convention, Al Murray presented the Patrick Mullen Quality Grading Award to Merlino Bros. Farms, headquartered in Hammonton, NJ.

In another highlight of the annual gathering, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Secretary Fisher addressed over 500 people during the dinner banquet Wednesday evening, Feb. 4.

Asked to assess this year's event, Murray replied, "The 101st convention is going to go down as one of the more productive ones. A lot of important agricultural issues were discussed and debated. The convention served its purpose: to give the State Board of Agriculture policy positions to further the department and the industry."

Asked why the event continues to be successful, Murray said, "Co-combining our convention with the Vegetable Growers Association has made it a true comprehensive industry gathering, where farmers' opinions can be expressed, and learn the latest through the trade show and continuing education classes."

Finally, asked about the new venue this year, Murray said, "Having everything on one floor enabled attendees to flow in and out, visit the trade show and watch our proceedings. This was the perfect venue. I would like to see us return here next year."