A new campaign is encouraging people to buy local and support New Jersey farmers after a difficult growing season that included a severe spring frost and an estimated $300 million in agricultural losses statewide. The “Keep It Growin'” campaign launched as more than 5,000 pounds of grapes wer e harvested from a one-acre vineyard in Camden County. The grapes survived a season that hit South Jersey fruit growers especially hard and are now headed to a local winery. “Our message is simple, every visit matters no matter what you get,” Michael Snyder of Visit South Jersey said. The campaign encourages people to spend money close to home by visiting farmers markets, wineries and farm events, among other activities. “When you stop at a farmers market, pick your own produce, stop at a winery or visit a farm event, you are supporting the people that grow our foods and keep NJ agricultural traditions alive,” Snyder said. The campaign comes after a particularly challenging growing season for New Jersey farmers. “South Jersey wine makers took a big hit, with a crop that’s not usable to make wine this year. Some lost vines altogether,” Camden County Commissioner Louis Cappelli Jr. said. At the Camden County vineyard, however, more than 5,000 pounds of grapes made it to harvest despite the difficult conditions. “We’ve been through a lot with deer pressure, spotted lantern flies, the frost, but we finally have it in balance and this is a good season considering what we’ve been through,” Steve Becker of Vinetech said. Geography helped protect the vineyard from the damaging frost, according to Becker. “There’s a little slope on this site and that allows the cold air to drain off the property,” Becker said. The one-acre vineyard was planted in 2019 and is now in its sixth harvest. It has produced more than 30,000 pounds of grapes over those six harvests. The grapes are Chambourcin, a dark-colored hybrid variety used to make wine. After being picked, the latest crop is making a short local journey to Amalthea Cellars Farm Winery in Atco, where the grapes will be crushed and eventually turned into wine. For local winemakers, supporting New Jersey agriculture can be as simple as choosing products grown and made in the state. “Well, the big news is people are going around and realizing that we’re making a lot of fine wines now,” Amalthea Cellars owner Louis Caracciolo said. “Agriculture is an important part of what makes New Jersey the Garden State, particularly here in South Jersey,” Cappelli said. The grapes harvested from the Camden County vineyard could be turned into bottles of wine within a year or two. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less