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Arthur R. Brown, Jr. - Click to enlarge
Arthur R. Brown, Jr.
During his 19 years as Secretary of Agriculture, Arthur R. Brown, Jr., worked tirelessly to set and advance New Jersey's agricultural agenda.

Serving as Secretary from 1982 through 2001, Art helped chart the course for an agriculture industry entering the 21st century.

His numerous contributions include the establishment of the highly popular "Jersey Fresh" marketing campaign, which became a model for other agriculture departments across the country, and the implementation of a nationally recognized biological pest control program.

Under Art's leadership, the Department established programs to ensure that New Jersey's agriculture industry remained strong, even in the most densely populated state in the nation.

Art worked to help win support for a stable source of state funding for farmland preservation. This was realized in 1999 with the signing of the Garden State Preservation Trust Act, which established a constitutionally dedicated source of funding for both farmland and open space preservation. He also led efforts to extend the farmland preservation program to the Pinelands.

Art worked with the Legislature to amend the state's Right to Farm Act to provide greater protection for farmers from restrictive municipal ordinances and public and private nuisance actions.

The former Secretary discovered his love for agriculture in Blackstone, Massachusetts, on a dairy farm, where he was raised.

Over the years, he served in leadership positions for various national and state agriculture organizations and received countless awards and commendations recognizing him for his tenacity and willingness to get the job done.

Art currently serves as associate director for outreach with Rutgers' Food Policy Institute and remains a strong proponent of important agricultural programs, including farmland preservation, biological pest control, soil and water conservation, and animal and plant disease prevention.