Ag chief offers support for younger farmers

The 36-year-old Pedricktown native's farm was the first stop on a Department of Agriculture tour Friday that highlighted some of the young innovators who are driving the agriculture industry in South Jersey.

With the sun beaming down on the fledgling crop of the Porch family's 175-acre farm, Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus said he has long considered South Jersey "the envy of other parts of the state."

Kuperus visited four farms in Salem and Cumberland counties owned or operated by people in their 20s or 30s, highlighting the young experts who represent the future of farming.

"Even though the median age of a farm owner in New Jersey is 55, more and more young people are seeing the many opportunities of entering our state's diverse agriculture industry," Kuperus said. "There is optimism, there is opportunity for young people, and people are coming into agriculture in our state."

For Porch, farming was an industry he had grown up with. Now a third-generation farmer, he gave up his podiatry practice several years ago to get back to the fields.

Besides strawberries, Porch Farms grows about 70 acres of sweet corn, along with cucumbers, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, yellow squash and watermelon.

"I enjoy waking up in the morning and looking at the plants," Porch said. "I enjoy what I do, I enjoy growing food for people. I take great pride in it."

His produce will sell at roadside markets and produce stands that opt for high quality berries unlike the average supermarket or grocery chain, which buys cheaper California berries that are bred to be shipped long distances.