MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP – The only thing more eye-catching than the bold “Grown in Monmouth” labels on the potted plants is the vibrant colors of Lou Davino’s impatiens.
The plants will go on sale at 30 Saker ShopRite stores across four counties starting Thursday, an initiative that Monmouth County economic leaders say will put thousands of eyes on the county’s agriculture industry.
At 10 a.m. Thursday, Monmouth County will kick off its new partnership with Saker ShopRite and Louis Davino Greenhouses. Under that arrangement, all of the seasonal flowers and vegetable plants grown by Davino Greenhouses and sold in front of Saker ShopRite stores will display the “Grown in Monmouth” logo.
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“It’s a way of bringing all of these individuals together under one umbrella and really representing what we have here in that area in a very clear and concise way,” said Freeholder Director Lillian Burry, the liaison to the county’s agricultural and open space efforts.
The county started the Grown in Monmouth initiative in 2016 to promote and expand the local agricultural industry.
Grown in Monmouth taps into the “buy local” trend where consumers want to purchase produce and other items from neighborhood farms either for greater freshness, to support the local economy or both.
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