In a celebration of family, fall, and farm life, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture proudly announced Christy Gamber of Millville as the overall winner of the 2023 #JerseyFreshApples social media photo contest.
Gamber’s winning photo, a picturesque shot of her husband Ryan pulling a wagon with their children Ella and Jackson into the orchard at Hill Creek Farms in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, captured the essence of the season.
The grand prize for the #JerseyFreshApples contest is a $250 gift card, which the Gamber family can use at Duffield’s Farm Market in Sewell, Gloucester County.
The winning photo, shared on Facebook and Instagram, resonated with the judges and the online community alike for its depiction of the joy and bonding experienced during a day at the orchard.
Gamber, a 46-year-old registered in Cumberland County Republican, expressed her gratitude, saying, “The fall season is a wonderful time of year to spend time with family outdoors and in an agricultural setting.”
“The pick-your-own experience provides an opportunity to teach our children about where food comes from and the importance of supporting farmers and the essential produce they grow each year. I am honored and humbled that my picture was chosen as the winner,” Gamber said.
The Department of Agriculture collaborated with the New Jersey Apple Industry Advisory Council to organize the #JerseyFreshApples contest, encouraging visitors to pick-your-own apple farms to share their experiences through photographs on social media using the designated hashtag.
The contest ran from September 6 to October 31, and each week, a winner was selected to receive a $50 gift card to their preferred Jersey Fresh market. The grand prize winner, Christy Gamber, was chosen through online voting based on the eight weekly winners.
“We were pleased to partner with the Apple Council to promote and highlight the many wonderful pick-your-own apple locations throughout the state,” said Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison III. “Congratulations to Christy as well as each of our weekly winners for bringing more attention to our hard-working farmers who grow the best produce anywhere.”
The Jersey Fresh program, established in 1984 by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, uses its logo to inform consumers that the fruits and vegetables were grown in the Garden State. With over 100 different varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, the Jersey Fresh logo guarantees the produce’s origin in New Jersey.
For more information about Jersey Fresh, including which crops are in season and where they are available, visit findjerseyfresh.com. The Department of Agriculture continues to champion local farmers and the agricultural experience, making Jersey Fresh a symbol of quality and community in the state.
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