“Growers work closely with Rutgers University to research and establish the best growing varieties for the Garden State,” said Christine Fries, coordinator of agricultural marketing for the NJDA.

One of the ways the NJDA assists peach growers in the state is with the Jersey Fresh program.  Established in 1984, it became the very first state-branding program and the NJDA designed the Jersey Fresh logo to inform consumers which fruits and vegetables were grown in the Garden State. If anyone sees the logo it guarantees that piece of produce was grown in New Jersey.

Each season, the NJDA promotes Jersey Fresh peaches through its marketing campaign which utilizes outdoor advertising like digital billboards along some of the nation’s busiest roads, seasonal radio spots, airplane banners, boat banners, transit posters, social media, in-store point of purchase materials, boardwalk sampling days and more.

“The NJDA works to promote all growers in the Garden State; growers are listed on our website FindJerseyFresh.com to help consumers find retail locations near them,” Fries said. “New Jersey is the Garden State and named that for good reason. Our state has various soils and microclimates that present great growing conditions for a variety of crops.”

While peaches remain a top crop, there are challenges to growing in the region.

“Weather is always a challenge,” Fries said. “Later frosts or rainy weather that hampers bee pollination in early spring can be devastating to a harvest.”

Labor availability can provide some challenges as well.

“There is a lot of work in pruning trees in the ‘offseason’ and then thinning the fruit when it starts to come in so that growers can provide the size fruit that consumers and retailers want,” Fries said, explaining there is often not enough workers to do what’s needed.

The Rutgers Tree Fruit Breeding program continues to develop new varieties, providing growers more options for diverse and sustainable commercial production while also giving home garden enthusiasts more opportunities for successful backyard fruit production.

“These new varieties also create additional opportunities for extended harvest and improved fruit quality to replace some of the older varieties,” Fries said.

The germplasm (genetic material) utilized for developing new varieties from Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) was sourced from different parts of the world. Germplasm plants were selected for vigor, tolerance to environmental stress, as well as for plant and fruit characteristics that may have the potential to increase consumer demand.

“The unique characteristics of the new NJAES varieties provide an opportunity for growers to garner more shelf space in retail establishments and provide more choices for consumers at direct markets,” Fries said.  “New Jersey farmers are growing peaches with traditional flavor as well as newer sweeter varieties with lower acidity. In addition, there is consumer interest in firmer varieties with different flesh colors and textures that these varieties offer.”