Official Site of The State of New Jersey

(HOPEWELL) - The New Jersey Department of Agriculture today presented Fairgrown Farm in Hopewell with the “Farmer Recognition Farm to School Award” during a visit to the Mercer County town. The presentation took place during the celebration of the 16th annual Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week and Fourth Annual Ag Literacy Week being held September 22-26. 

“As first-generation farmers James and Alex have built a modern operation that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and community engagement and embraced the opportunity to enhance our local food systems,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn. “Their dedication to connecting and educating students about agriculture is building an understanding where food comes from, can both inspire the next generation of farmers while educating students what keeps agricultural the heart of New Jersey alive and growing.” 

Fairgrown Farm is a first-generation farm located on the Watershed Institute and was started in 2018 by two brothers, James and Alex Klett, who began farming in 2016. The Klett brothers have grown their vision through thriving partnerships, partnering with over 40 farms across New Jersey and Pennsylvania through the Fairgrown Collaborative, which they established in 2022. They prioritize locally grown food while staying committed to sustainable and regenerative practices and emphasize farmer-community connection.  

As first-generation farmers, agriculture education to New Jersey youth is an instrumental aspect to their business model and farming values. 

"When I became a vegetable farmer 10 years ago, I thought my role was pretty simple: grow good food for the people in my community. Over the years, as I started spending more time working with local schools and students, I realized that growing the food was only part of the job,” said Fairgrown Farm owner James Klett. “As farmers, we also have an opportunity to be ambassadors for agriculture—to help kids understand where their food comes from, meet the people who grow it, and feel a connection to the farms and farmland around them. Somewhere along the way, Farm to School became my favorite part of being a farmer, and I genuinely love every moment I get to spend sharing what we do with the next generation. Receiving this recognition means so much to Fairgrown Farm because it celebrates not just the food we grow, but the relationships we’re building between New Jersey’s farms, schools, and communities.” 

Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week celebrates the partnerships being built between New Jersey farmers and schools encouraging schools to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate into meals.  The partnerships foster healthier eating habits and a better understanding of local agriculture. 

The impact of the Farm to School Program continues to grow, with more than 500 school districts purchasing locally grown foods. Of those districts, 391 have implemented cafeteria-based initiatives featuring Jersey Tastes fruits, vegetables and recipes, produce grown in school gardens, local food taste tests, and educational activities connected to school meals. Additionally, 218 school districts extend Farm to School efforts beyond the cafeteria through nutrition education, school gardens, farm field trips, and farmer assemblies that connect students with local agriculture.    

To learn more, visit www.farmtoschool.nj.gov.