Race Farm in Blairstown Township, Warren County, has been certified under the River Friendly Farm Program by the North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D). This certification highlights Race Farm's commitment to sustainable agriculture and dedication to agricultural practices that build soil health and protect water quality. Race Farm is also among the farms listed on Explore Warren, Warren County's Tourism Partnership dedicated to local shops, grub and everything in between. Through the River Friendly Farm Program, with the Foodshed Alliance as an outreach partner, North Jersey RC&D certifies farms that produce agricultural products using practices that not only enhance productivity but also ensure the preservation of vital land and water resources.
A comprehensive evaluation of agricultural practices at Race Farm confirmed that the farm meets the standards set by the River Friendly Farm Program. This certification acknowledges Race Farm’s efforts in adopting and maintaining farming practices that build soil health, prevent erosion, and protect water resources.
Key Highlights of Race Farm's Certification:
● Implementation of soil health management practices.
● Water management projects to protect water quality.
● Use of soil testing, pest scouting, and nutrient management plan.
● Commitment to water conservation strategies.
North Jersey RC&D’s Executive Director, Laura Tessieri, commended Race Farm for its commitment to sustainable practices.
"We are thrilled to certify Race Farm as a River Friendly Farm. Their dedication to implementing best management practices towards building soil health serves as a model for other farms in the region and demonstrates the positive impact of sustainable agriculture on our environment," Tessieri stated. Race Farm is more than 70 years old and the fourth generation of quality growers. They strive to provide their customers with the freshest, best quality produce they can possibly produce. Over the decades, their standards and mission have remained the same, giving their customer's great, fresh, local produce, while helping to keep open ground and sustaining agriculture in New Jersey.
The Race Farm Market is located at 224 Route 94 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers fresh produce, flash-frozen, locally caught fish, local meats, dairy and eggs as well as baked goods and healthy homemade soups and other prepared meals. They have a wide variety of fruits and veggies for picking, through the growing season and there is never any admission fee! Free hayrides are available on weekends in the fall and you are also welcome to pack a picnic and relax in their beautiful picnic area!
“For over 10 years the Race Farm and the Foodshed Alliance’s Local Share program have been partners in supplying community food banks with fresh and healthy produce. Now with our certification as a River Friendly Farm we are informing our community that we are good stewards of our land and water. The certification celebrates the strong connection of farmers to their land. A visit, at no cost, to farms by knowledgeable and helpful people can be enlightening,” said farmer Doug Race.
Race Farm’s certification is a testament to the farm's proactive approach in integrating environmental stewardship with agricultural production. This achievement not only benefits the farm and its surrounding ecosystem but also contributes to the broader community’s efforts to protect the health of the local watershed and long-term agricultural viability of the region. For more information about North Jersey RC&D, the River Friendly Farm Program, or to learn about sustainable farming practices, please visit https://www.northjerseyrcd.org/river-friendly-farms and https://www.riverfriendlyfarm.org/ or contact Courtney Cooper, River Friendly Farm Program Administrator at ccooper@northjerseyrcd.org.
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