<p>The New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, Douglas Fisher, recently toured Alexander Hay Greenhouses as part of National Agriculture Day, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/njdofa_body_032714.png" alt="cropped_Image_032714" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Fisher viewed varieties of Easter, foliage and flowering plants, as well as tropical and dish gardens. National Agriculture day was started in 1973 and aims to increase awareness about how food and fiber products are produced. The event also helps people to appreciate the role agriculture plays in the economy by providing safe, abundant and affordable products.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"We recognize Agriculture Day to acknowledge the important place agriculture holds in the daily life of our citizens and the economic prosperity it brings to the Garden State," said Secretary Fisher. "After a cold and snowy winter, we celebrate our farms and hardworking farmers, and look forward to another great growing season."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">New Jersey sells more than $1.1 billion in agricultural products each year, making it a vital industry for the Garden State. With 9,071 farms on 717,057 acres, it is the third largest industry in the state's economy.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">New Jersey's agriculture is varied, and includes horticulture, fruit and vegetable production, grains, livestock, equine, dairy, poultry, seafood and aquaculture.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"As an agricultural business in northern New Jersey, we provide employment, purchase growing materials, and sell finished products contributing to the New Jersey economy,” said Bob Eelman, Operator of Alexander Hay Greenhouses, a New Jersey wholesale business. "As a wholesale agricultural business, we are an important part of the support network that the local retailer depends on to provide quality products to their communities."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"We are thrilled to be celebrating National Agriculture Day with the NJDA at this professional greenhouse operation," said Dominick Mondi, Executive Director of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association. "The value of agriculture, in both process and product, cannot be understated. Nursery and greenhouse operations provide the plants which help improve property values, provide ecological benefit, and improve the health and lives of all New Jersey Residents."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/" target="_new"> New Jersey Department of Agriculture </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
