May 14, 2024

Jersey Fresh celebrates anniversary, visits Consalo Family Farms

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Edward D. Wengryn and other state and local officials kicked off the 40th anniversary of Jersey Fresh with a visit to Consalo Family Farms.

Vineland-based Consalo Family Farms grows and packages locally grown produce and other farm products that are sold in farmers markets and stores around the state.

“Jersey Fresh is an iconic brand that is nationally known, respected, and imitated by many other states due to the success it has experienced here in the Garden State for the last four decades,” Secretary Wengryn said. “The major reason for the success of this brand has been the consistently outstanding produce grown by farms like the one we are on today throughout the entire state. The Jersey Fresh label continues to be a trusted trademark for consumers who know they are purchasing the best product while supporting the local economy.”

New Jersey ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. in the production of several crops, including third in asparagus, one of the early season crops highlighted today. The recently released Census of Agriculture showed the New Jersey asparagus crop was valued at $12.5 million and that the overall production of fruits and vegetables is valued at almost a half billion annually.

Other crops with an early harvest that are available daily include kale, lettuce, radishes, and spinach. Expected to be widely available in about two weeks are beets and strawberries.

“We are proud to be one of the growers that plays a role in making Jersey Fresh produce available to everyone,” said Chelsea Consalo, executive vice president for Consalo Family Farms. “The Jersey Fresh season is here and we anticipate having an outstanding season. Our family plans to maintain our agricultural tradition for the generations to come.”

Other members of the Consalo Family Farms team include: Skip Consalo, CEO; A.J. Consalo, senior vice president of procurement; and Sarah Consalo, vice president of finance.

Consalo Family Farms is a vertically integrated grower, packer, shipper, importer  and distributor. The company is 100 percent family owned and has been growing fruits and vegetables in New Jersey since 1927 and now grows on approximately 1,500 acres.

The family’s largest crop is blueberries, but also includes a wide range of vegetables, which includes salad items (leaf lettuces), herbs, and cooking greens (dandelion, swiss chard, kale, among other items), peppers, zucchini, eggplant and hard squash.

The company distributes items in both the U.S. and Canada allowing local New Jersey produce a national and international reach. For more information, visit consalofamilyfarms.com.