Farmers Suffered Superstorm Sandy, Other Weather-Related Damages During 2012
Governor Chris Christie today announced United States Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack has granted a Natural Disaster Designation for 14 New Jersey counties following Superstorm Sandy, a snowstorm, a Nor’easter, drought, high winds, hail, excessive heat and rain, and flash flooding between June 28 and November 8, 2012.
The disaster designation was requested to open up another avenue of relief to farmers who lost crops or suffered structural damages to their farms through the many severe weather events that befell the Garden State in 2012. The declaration includes Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Sussex and Warren Counties.
“Superstorm Sandy not only impacted our shoreline, but caused an immense amount of damage for our farmers, who already had suffered losses due to severe weather throughout the season,” said Governor Christie. “While federal aid is already being provided through a variety of programs, now farmers will have additional federal agriculture disaster assistance to help them get back on their feet.”
For counties to be designated as primary natural disaster areas, they must have sustained a 30 percent or greater production loss to a single crop due to the disaster. Nine counties were designated primary areas, while Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic and Warren counties were included as contiguous counties, still making them eligible to receive help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA).
“We are very thankful to Secretary Vilsack for giving our farmers the opportunity to access the USDA’s disaster relief programs,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “In spite of the many weather-related issues faced by agriculture in 2012, the season was an overall success.”
The disaster designation makes farm operators eligible to be considered for assistance from Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes Farm Service Agency emergency loans.
“Although 2012 was a challenging year for many growers in a lot of ways, I’m excited we’ll be able to offer this help to recover from their 2012 losses and get them ready for the 2013 season ,” said Paul Hlubik, Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in New Jersey. “I’m grateful to Secretary Vilsack and the Christie Administration for their support as we sought this disaster designation. It will not only make farmers eligible for low-interest loans and restructuring, but extend the time for them to apply for assistance.”
Farmers in eligible counties now have eight months from the date of the Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. The loans could cover up to 100 percent of the dollar value of the losses. Farmers must have suffered a 30 percent loss in crop production or physical loss to livestock, inventory or property and meet FSA’s eligibility requirements. FSA considers each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
Farmers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office for details. To find a local office, visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.
Before the holidays, I was invited to go to a media dinner at Chakra, a restaurant and lounge located centrally off Route 4, in Paramus. Since Chakra has such a romantic atmosphere, I felt it was only right to bring along my boyfriend, Jason.
There was the shuck and chuck, the delicate pick and dip and the hunch and slurp. Contestants dribbled cocktail sauce, squeezed fist fulls of lemon and even splashed soy sauce on oysters by the sheet pan at the 14th Annual Oyster Bowl at the Blue Point Grill in Princeton on Sunday.
At this years bowl, volunteers shucked 7,500 oysters on February 3. This brings the total oysters shucked over the years to 70,000.
Oyster Bowl is also the one day of the year when 
This past week I attended the Grand Opening media event for the first Smashburger to hit South Jersey. While North Jersey has been enjoying Smashburger’s juicy burgers, chicken sandwiches and unique sides for a while now, South Jersey has yet to partake in the patty party, until now. With its innovative “smash and sear” cooking process, Smashburger ups the ante with its fresh, never frozen, 100% Angus beef burgers that are smashed to perfection on a 400-degree flat grill to sear in the juicy flavor.
I have to admit, while their burgers are really delicious and I was pleasantly surprised by the choices of rolls and toppings, what impressed me the most, was the restaurant’s variety of unique sides and specialty dishes including their Veggie Frites (above) flash fried carrot sticks and green beans which may even get your kids eating veggies with their burgers. Their Spicy Baja Black Bean burger (left) has an excellent kick to it and is a great alternative to meat. I would have no problem ordering it over a burger. The same goes for their grilled chicken (or crispy) sandwiches with toppings like goat cheese, avocado or how about buffalo sauce and blue cheese?
Smashburger likes to create regional menu items inspired by local flavors, culture and tastes. The Glassboro menu will include the The Liberty Smashburger (pictured above) – 100% Angus beef burger topped with grilled onions, Cheez Whiz® and Gulden’s Mustard® on a pretzel bun. The New Jersey Smashburger, which was my favorite– 100% Angus beef burger topped with applewood-smoked bacon, crumbled blue cheese, grilled onions, haystack onions, lettuce, tomato and mayo on an onion bun. This burger I am told resides in North Jersey locations. If it were up to me, I’d make it a “Jersey wide” burger. And, The Liberty Dog – 100% Angus beef hot dog, grilled onions, Cheez Whiz® and Gulden’s Mustard®. You can click here to view the whole menu.
It’s that time of year again, when the thoughts of lovers young and old turn to…..chocolate! We’re fortunate to have the chocolate purveyor named Best Chocolatier in the World by National Geographic Traveler Magazine right nearby in Philadelphia. If you are in the market for a wonderful treat for your sweetie, look no further than Teuscher Chocolate, located at The Shops at The Bellevue at Broad and Walnut streets.
Teuscher Philadelphia is open Monday through Saturday 10am – 6pm, Sundays 12 – 5pm. Online ordering is available at 
It kind of started over a beer. Ever since Brant Braue’s brother asked him, “If you could wake up tomorrow and do anything, what would it be?” opening a distillery has been his dream. “I think he put this in the maybe category until we met at Cricket Hill and started talking about it.” said Krista Haley, co-owner of 
It took a “mere” 14 months for Jersey Artisan Distilling to become licensed. That’s nothing short of a miracle in a state where no one really knew how to do it. It helps to have an ace in the hole on the team, a lawyer. “The fact is, I couldn’t have done this without Krista.” Brant admitted to me. As Krista puts it, “I have dealt with a lot of politics and several government agencies throughout my career as a lawyer, which helped us in the licensing process and I hope that my skills will continue to help us develop and sustain our business.”
