The first locally produced flowers and vegetables under the Grown in Monmouth brand are now available for purchase at ShopRite stores owned by the Saker family in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Mercer counties.
Monmouth County’s freeholders were on hand as Louis Davino of Louis Davino Greenhouses, Millstone Township, introduced the line of branded seasonal and specialty flowers and vegetable plants grown in his greenhouses now being supplied to ShopRite stores owned by the Saker family, according to a press release.
“Monmouth County has worked to create the Grown in Monmouth brand that will enable our agricultural community to clearly identify their products as locally grown,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone. “Davino Greenhouses and Saker ShopRites are the first to take advantage of the new Grown in Monmouth brand and label. We are looking to add other qualified growers to the initiative as the program expands.”
“All of these plants were started from seed in our Monmouth County facility,” said Davino. “The next step is for shoppers to plant the flowers or vegetables in their home gardens. They can be confident they will have truly locally grown blossoms and produce when they purchase plants in Grown in Monmouth containers. If a plant is grown in Monmouth County soil, or New Jersey soil, from seed to harvest it will be spectacular.”
“Saker ShopRites and the Saker family are proud to work with local farmers and Grown in Monmouth to stock even more locally grown produce in our stores,” said Richard Saker, president and CEO of Saker ShopRites. “Our Jersey fresh fruit and vegetables can include, depending on the season, blueberries, tomatoes, corn and many others.
“My own great-grandfather ran a small farm near Freehold before opening his first grocery store in 1916, so it’s a natural fit for our family owned business to work today with family owned farms in Monmouth County. That’s why we believe it is important to support initiatives like Grown in Monmouth that raise awareness about our rich agricultural history and connect customers and businesses with local farms,” Saker said.
In 2015, the Saker family purchased Dearborn Market and Farm, a specialty grocery, nursery and farm in Holmdel. Dearborn Market is farming 25 acres to grow and sell vegetables such as zucchini, heirloom tomatoes and exotic eggplant along with a variety of plants, according to the press release. That produce is sold at Dearborn and the Saker family’s neighboring ShopRite stores.
For more information, visit www.GrownInMonmouth.com
