There are Farms in Middlesex County? Three Farmers Win Statewide Excellence Awards

Three Middlesex County men are proving why New Jersey really is the Garden State, and why Middlesex County isn't just Route 1 traffic, asphalt, and overcrowding. John Hauser, Bill Griffin, and Jim Giamarese are all farmers for a living and run in East Brunswick and Old Bridge.

They are so good at what they do, they are being honored as part of the 2012 Vegetable Growers of New Jersey and State Agricultural Convention dinner, to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18 in Atlantic City.

Bill Hlubik, Middlesex County Agricultural Agent, has nothing but praise for the men. 

"Bill Griffin has provided extraordinary leadership on a local and statewide level  for the  agricultural community.  The Distinguished Service Award is one of the most prestigious awards for any agricultural leader in New Jersey," he said.   "Bill’s being honored is no surprise to anyone in the farm community."

Hlubik lauded the Giamereses for their work with Farmer's Against Hunger. "Jim and Sue’s generosity and leadership in the program is second to none.  They fought to keep this program running and contributed thousands of pounds of fresh produce each year to the needy in New Jersey," he said.

Hauser Hill Farm and its owners were also deserving of praise. "John Hauser and his wife Carolyn run a highly successful fruit farm in Old Bridge.  John’s expertise and leadership in horticulture are second to none in the state," Hlubik said.

Giamarese Farms, East Brunswick, NJ

Giamarese and his wife, Sue, will receive the Vegetable Grower of the Year Award from the organization. Giamarese Farms is located in East Brunswick. The 30-acre farm was entered into the state's Farmland Preservation Program in 2003. 

Together, the couple farms about 130 acres, while the Giamarese family has been involved in agriculture for generations. Giamarese was one of the first in the county to market a "Pick Your Own" farm along with a retail market. 

"Jim and Sue were some of the very first growers in the state to start a successful Direct Marketing operation," said Hlubik. "By selling directly to consumers, they were able to provide a high quality product to consumers while making their farm more profitable."

And that's not all. The family runs farm tours for schools and groups, and the Giamareses have been involved with 'Farmers Against Hunger' for almost two decades. 

After receiving the National Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year Award in 1989, Giamese continued the tradition by serving as president of the NJ Ag Society Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2008 and providing continued leadership on the Middlesex County Board of Agriculture. He was named Middlesex County Farm of the Year in 2010.

W.V. Griffin Nurseries, East Brunswick, NJ

The Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from the State Board of Agriculture will be given to Bill Griffin of W.V. Griffin Nurseries. Griffin is a second-generation nurseryman and Christmas tree grower who grew up working at his family nursery, eventually attending Louisiana State for Landscape Architecture.  Always involved in agricultural leadership, Griffin has served on the Middlesex County Board of Agriculture’s Executive Committee since 1973 and currently serves as president. He is also president of the NJ State Board of Agriculture.

Griffin "provides a unique blend of wisdom and practical knowledge in fulfilling all of his leadership roles in his career," Hlubik said.

On a state level, Griffin is active in the business of agriculture, having served on the New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 1997, as well as on the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station’s Board of Managers from 1992 to 1997. 

Hauser Hill Farms, Old Bridge, NJ

The Fruit Grower of the Year Award from the NJ State Horticultural Society will be awarded to John Hauser of Hauser Hill Representing the fourth generation of his farming family, Hauser farmers have tended the same 300 acres in Old Bridge for more than 125 years. Hauser, along with his wife, Carolyn, sell fruits and vegetables at his farm stand on Ticetown Road and bring produce to markets in the area.

Since his 1974 graduation from Delaware Valley College, Hauser has dedicated himself to the stewardship of the land and making his community a better place. A former president of the Middlesex County Board of Agriculture, Hauser has also served as a delegate to the New Jersey Farm Bureau, a member of the Middlesex County Fair Association Board of Trustees, and vice president of the New Jersey State Horticultural Society. In 2009, Hauser received the NJ Vegetable Grower of the Year award. 

"John has been active in the Rutgers Fruit IPM program since its inception, and he has helped to promote and support this valuable program for all NJ fruit growers," Hlubik said, while applauding Hauser for his work with the NJ Farmers Against Hunger program.

Hauser was also awarded the Business Leader of the Year by the Old Bridge, Sayreville and South Amboy Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and selected as the 2001 Farmer of the Year by the Middlesex County Fair Committee.