For Immediate Release:
September 25, 2019
County partners with Rutgers University to develop hazelnut farmer demonstration research orchard
CREAM RIDGE, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to announce the partnership between the County’s Grown in Monmouth program and Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) to develop a hazelnut farmer demonstration research orchard.
The ceremony was held on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center, 283 County Route 539, Cream Ridge.
“The County is so excited to work with Rutgers to develop the first commercial hazelnut farmer demonstration orchard, east of Oregon, that is resistant to Eastern Filbert Blight,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Division of Economic Development. “Our goal is to give County agricultural businesses the opportunity to learn about and grow hazelnuts in Monmouth County, which will lead to new commercial markets as there is a growing demand for hazelnuts.”
After 20 plus years of extensive research and development, Rutgers NJAES has produced four varieties of cultivars, or hazelnut tree plants, which are Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) resistant. EFB is a fungus that attacks and kills hazelnut trees. Because of EFB, commercial hazelnut orchards on the east coast have ceased to exist.
“Monmouth County and Rutgers have a unique opportunity to not only to cultivate this new crop on the east coast, but also revitalize the Rutgers Cream Ridge Research Extension Center,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Board of Agriculture and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. “In addition to County growers, the Future Farmers of America, County 4-H members and Master Gardeners will be able to utilize the orchard and facility for hands-on, learning experiences.”
Photo caption: Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone (left) and Freeholder Lillian G. Burry (right) announced the partnership between the County’s Grown in Monmouth program and Rutgers NJAES to develop a hazelnut farmer demonstration research orchard.
Photo caption: A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to
announce the partnership between the County’s Grown in Monmouth program and Rutgers NJAES to develop a hazelnut farmer demonstration research orchard.
Left to right: John Ciufo, Director of the County’s Division of Economic Development; Anna Maria Nieswand, Project Manager for Rutgers Hazelnut Program; Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone; Dr. Brad Hillman, Director of NJAES research; Freeholder Lillian G. Burry; Dr. Joseph Goffreda, Director of Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center; Tom Freiberger, Research Farm Supervisor for Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center; Dr. Tom Molnar, Associate Professor of Plant Biology and John Capik, Rutgers Senior Field Researcher for the Department of Plant Biology.
Photo caption: A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to announce the partnership between the County’s Grown in Monmouth program and Rutgers NJAES to develop a hazelnut farmer demonstration research orchard.
Left to right: Matt Newman, County 4-H Agent; Diane Larsen, County Horticulturalist; Assemblyman Ronald Dancer; Andy Cappelli, Member of the County’s Board of Agriculture; Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso; Gary DeFelice, Board of Directors for the County’s Board of Agriculture; Freeholder Lillian G. Burry; Reicks Bruins, Member of the County’s Board of Agriculture; Robin Bruins, Member of the County’s Board of Agriculture; Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone; Dr. Brad Hillman, Director of NJAES research; Pat Butch, Member of the County’s Board of Agriculture; Erin Kinneman, Grown in Monmouth team member; Dr. Tom Molnar, Associate Professor of Plant Biology; Susan Folta, Grown in Monmouth team member; John Ciufo, Director of the County’s Division of Economic Development; Dorey Grimes, Grown in Monmouth team member.
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