State preserves farmland

Gov. James McGreevey visited East Windsor to announce the preservation of the Cedarland Farm.

By: David Pescatore
   EAST WINDSOR — Gov. James McGreevey visited CBJ Farms on Cedarville Road Wednesday to announce the permanent preservation of the nearly 245-acre Cedarland Farm.
   The designation guarantees that the land will be used only for farming.
   With this declaration, East Windsor now has almost 900 acres of protected farmland.
   Gov. McGreevey said the preservation of farmland was instrumental in fighting "our single greatest threat, unrestrained, uncontrolled development."
   "We thought that if we built one more road, one more mall, one more housing project; it would solve the problem. The truth is, that is the problem," Gov. McGreevey added.
   Mayor Janice S. Mironov said it was "a terrific day for East Windsor."
   "This part of the community," she said of the farms. "This wonderful, beautiful part brings the charm to our area that makes people want to live here."
   Freeholder Brian M. Hughes said Mercer County is "committed to preserving the space we need."
   He said that the county now has 4,800 acres of preserved farmland.
   Statewide, 102,000 acres of farmland have been permanently preserved. This is approximately 12 percent of the state’s estimated 830,000 acres of farmland.
   The state Agriculture Development Committee earlier this month purchased the land for $2.4 million from Cedarland Associates I. The SADC purchases farms, then resells them with deed restrictions that permanently preserve the land for agricultural use. The farm will be divided and auctioned as two separate farms March 14. The 166-acre Cedarland Farm will open at a minimum bid of $585,000. The 77-acre Cedarland/Krystal Farm will open at $255,000.
   Agriculture Secretary, and SADC chair, Charles M. Kuperus said farmland preservation, along with promoting strong economic development opportunities in agriculture and equipping the next generation to manage agriculture were key components for smart growth.
   The Lenox Farm on Cedarville Road was purchased by the SADC in July for $933,760. It sold at auction in January for $500,000 to a cut-flower operator based in the Boston area.
   According to Mayor Mironov, the SADC expected to purchase the two Cedarland Farm lots and auction them at the same time as the Lenox Farm, but a delay in the sale forced the auction to be moved to March 14.
   Potential bidders should visit the SADC Web site at www.stste.nj.us/agriculture/sadc/sadc.htm or call (800) 474-5314.