Till We Meet Again

agritourism, Jersey Fresh and Jersey Grown. I think each piece that has been written could clearly have an update or refresher on how we fared in making progress while moving forward.

After all, everything changes and so incredibly fast. I recall in my column of February 2017, “Yet Still Not Flying Cars,” commenting on drones, vertical farming, and mini-satellites, which all seemed so futuristic then. Now, six years later, these are commonplace.

That seems to be the price of technological innovation – the incredible pace of our lives. Whatever I point to in the next few words will almost be outdated to a degree because, by virtue of it being known to us, it means we most assuredly have moved on to the next object or idea to ensnare our collective imagination. Think AI /AR (artificial intelligence and altered reality) and the speed of change is almost incalculable.

But while so much is evolving, there are some human elements that withstand the pull of technology and remain inherently, instinctually, and forever bound in the human condition.

A computer cannot love or respect or honor as we do. Machines can do the work without pausing or stopping, but they can never do any more than that. To be able to sit, admire, and enjoy the glow of flowers, the chirping of birds, and the ratcheting sounds of insects. These are the joys of living in nature.

I’ve written articles on “The Allure of Trees,” produce diversity, garden clubbing, county fairs, the tomato, and the peach. It brings to mind the admonition that there is “so much to do” in Dr. Seuss’ book, “Oh the Places You’ll Go.”

Moving ahead, I would like to spread a little ink on what I have pushed for over these years on the farm front, and why I hope these efforts will continue.

Not only growing systems from the production side, but just as importantly, or maybe more importantly, ideas for the marketing of our production to meet the wants and needs of the consuming public with less waste and more equity.

All forms of production – conventional or traditional, organic, regenerative, hydroponic, aeroponic, permaculture, etc. – must be looked at and developed by the agricultural community. However, stopping progress and just doing things the same way all the time sounds good as a story line, but it does not translate to the bottom line. In the field of farming, as in any industry, we must always have the collective stamina to embrace and even celebrate change.

On another front, we not only must continue to preserve farmland, we also need to protect prime soils, because once destroyed they are almost impossible to restore in any economically feasible manner.

New Jersey is uniquely positioned geographically, demographically, and climatologically. If we adjust appropriately, just as we have pivoted in the past, farming will thrive and prosper because we are a state of many firsts, known for our diversity and talent that drive innovation, and that’s what moves us forward.

But we must always be mindful that we can lose our agriculture county by county if we don’t defend our inherent right to have it.

Lastly, as I leave, I want to mention the talented people within the New Jersey Department of Agriculture with whom I have worked since my days in the Legislature and then since I arrived here.

They are dedicated and have provided the Secretary the depth of bench to make things happen that are too numerous to mention here.

Just know, we are there for consumers, producers, purveyors, distributors, and the general public interacting each and every day.

I will be moving on but not out. New Jersey is my home and I plan to stay involved and engaged. Thank you all for the privilege of engaging with you, the Gardener News readers, these past several years. Be Well and Be Gardening.

Editor’s Note: Douglas

H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http:// www.state.nj.us/agriculture