As in past years, New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Marketing & Development is providing New Jersey’s fruit and vegetable industry with vital and expert inspection and grading services. Working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NJDA’s inspectors work with brokers, shippers, dealers, processors and farmers throughout the state.

The 2013 produce season is underway and should be highlighted by good quantities of high-quality produce.

Nice weather has had a significant impact on the growing conditions for spring Jersey Fresh produce. Our seasonably cool spring got everything off to a slow early start. Spring was a little moister than usual, as well.

This weather caused many growers to delay getting seed or transplanting into the soil and discouraged more plowing and planting. We saw more gradual growing conditions and bee pollination this spring.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture requires any person buying or receiving produce from New Jersey growers on a credit basis to be licensed and bonded. Security must be filed with the department in an amount relating to the value of their credit purchases. The security is meant to provide financial protection to New Jersey producers in the event of a default on payment.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture takes pride in the fact that our state’s produce is as fresh as fresh gets.

That has been our marketing slogan for the past several years and will continue to be an underlying theme in the Department’s communications with consumers and retailers. But this season, our marketing message is that Jersey Fresh is consistently great, year after year. In 2013, Jersey Fresh is having “Another Great Season.”

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher on May 21 visited farms in Cumberland and Gloucester counties to highlight the start of the Jersey Fresh growing season.  Stops included Dooley Farms and A. Pagnini Farms in Vineland and Dan Graiff Farms in Newfield.

June Jo Lee, a self-described ethnographer, told a crowd at the United Fresh Produce Association convention that "food culture" is the basis for all food trends, and the future looks bright for fresh produce.

In fact, she said that most of the important trends have increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables as their major component. Before delving into those trends, Lee explained the kind of work she does and how it relates to the industry.