Fresh tomatoes are featured inside the market at Russo’s Fruit & Vegetable farm, a Tabernacle landmark that is among three agricultural properties being considered for preservation.
Process begins with Russo, Durr and Roohr properties
Back in 1940 – before World War II food rationing – Anthony Russo Jr. purchased 86 acres of prime farmland in Tabernacle and helped feed residents as well as soldiers heading off to war.
Eighty-three years later, county residents still shop for fresh produce at the now larger Russo’s Fruit & Vegetable farm and market on Medford Lakes Road.
“Farming has been a tradition in the Russo Family for over 80 years,” notes the farm’s website. “Farming has not only been our livelihood for all these years, but it has also been our passion.”
Now, the Russo Farm will be forever. County commissioners approved a measure on June 28 to add three farms to its farmland preservation program: Russo; the Durr Farm in North Hanover, which grows flowers and produce; and the Roohr Farm in Southampton, which produces hay and grains.
“The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the preliminary applications for the preservation of the three properties totaling 310 acres,” said county spokesperson David Levinsky.
The county will seek appraisals to purchase the development rights for the farms and have them deed restricted to remain in agriculture. Farmers will still own the land. If the plan is approved, the county will have preserved more than 63,000 acres of farmland, ranking it number one in the state for total acres preserved and number seven in the nation.
The commissioners have already granted final approval for the preservation of Black Walnut Farm in Mansfield, Brace Lane Farm in Tabernacle and the Gatley Farm in Shamong – a total of 138 acres – and the county expects to close on all three this summer, according to Levinsky.
“Preserving farmland is a win-win,” noted county Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson. “It keeps land in agriculture and helps guard against overdevelopment that has become a growing concern as developers aggressively target our county’s remaining farms and open space.”
Once approved for preservation, Russo, Durr and Roohr would be eligible for state funding to cover as much as 60% of costs for the process. The Durr and Roohr properties are also eligible for funding from the federal Department of Defense because they’re located within a 5-mile buffer zone of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst that helps minimize security issues and limits development and land-use conflicts near the base, Levinsky explained.
“All three of these properties have long histories in farming and contribute to our county’s tradition as one of New Jersey’s top agriculture producers,” said Commissioner Allison Eckel, liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation.
“Preserving them will keep these lands in agriculture forever and prevent developers from grabbing important parts of our county landscape,” she added. “It’s the right thing to do for our farmers and for our residents’ quality of life.”
