The Century Farm Award is presented to a New Jersey farm that has been in the same family and operational for at least 100 years. Dive into the rich history of agriculture as we present two generational New Jersey farms with the Century Farm Award at our Annual Gala on March 2nd, 2024.
Century Farm Award - Stults Farm
For 109 years the Stults family has been selling their own handpicked vegetables at their farm in Plainsboro, NJ. Stults farm is 200 acres of beautifully maintained preserved farmland. Their hard working, farm family consists of owners Stanley and Jill Stults, along with their son Brian, his wife Jennifer, and their three children.
The Stults Family takes great pride in their farm family heritage and in the meticulous care of their farm. It all began in 1915 when Clifford Addison Stults purchased the 93-acre farm growing potatoes and wheat. He was then joined by his son Stanley C Stults and they began farming together in 1944. In 1950 Stanley took over the operation. After several years, he bought the farm from his fathers’ estate and had his son, Stanley C. Stults Jr., join him. They formed a partnership in the family farming business and diversified their crops adding soybeans and feed corn to their fields.
Stanley Jr. married Jill Roszel in 1984 and they purchased the farm from Stanley’s father as he soon retired. They continued to adapt and change to market conditions and introduced “pick your own” strawberries and peas which became an important part of their farming business. Throughout the 1980’s they added other vegetables to their “pick your own” including sweet corn while continuing to grow potatoes, wheat, and soybeans on the 140 acres. Leased farmland was becoming scarcer with the increased demand of housing developments at this time.
In 1987 The Stults family entered into an 8 year municipally approved Farmland Preservation Program. On January 5, 1990, the development easements were purchased by Middlesex County and the State Farmland Preservation Program. The Stults Farm was the first farm in the county to be permanently preserved through the Farmland Preservation Program! Nothing can ever be built on this beautiful farmland which was a great reassurance for the Stults.
The family soon decided to focus their farming business solely on “pick your own” and discontinue the potato, soybean, and feed corn. With this decision came the immediate opportunity to purchase 106 acres of prime preserved farmland also through the Farmland Preservation Program contiguous to their farm.
Seeing a new opportunity, Stults Farm began offering a “CSA” (Community Supported Agriculture) program and farmstand to satiate consumers appetite for local, fresh fruits and vegetables. However, Stults Farm continued its legacy “pick your own” pumpkins during the fall harvest season for nearby families and customers.
The Stults family has adapted and transformed its farm throughout the five generations and look forward to carrying on their successful farming business for years to come.
Fun Fact: Stults Farm has been in existence longer than Plainsboro has been incorporated!
The Stults Family takes great pride in their farm family heritage and in the meticulous care of their farm. It all began in 1915 when Clifford Addison Stults purchased the 93-acre farm growing potatoes and wheat. He was then joined by his son Stanley C Stults and they began farming together in 1944. In 1950 Stanley took over the operation. After several years, he bought the farm from his fathers’ estate and had his son, Stanley C. Stults Jr., join him. They formed a partnership in the family farming business and diversified their crops adding soybeans and feed corn to their fields.
Stanley Jr. married Jill Roszel in 1984 and they purchased the farm from Stanley’s father as he soon retired. They continued to adapt and change to market conditions and introduced “pick your own” strawberries and peas which became an important part of their farming business. Throughout the 1980’s they added other vegetables to their “pick your own” including sweet corn while continuing to grow potatoes, wheat, and soybeans on the 140 acres. Leased farmland was becoming scarcer with the increased demand of housing developments at this time.
In 1987 The Stults family entered into an 8 year municipally approved Farmland Preservation Program. On January 5, 1990, the development easements were purchased by Middlesex County and the State Farmland Preservation Program. The Stults Farm was the first farm in the county to be permanently preserved through the Farmland Preservation Program! Nothing can ever be built on this beautiful farmland which was a great reassurance for the Stults.
The family soon decided to focus their farming business solely on “pick your own” and discontinue the potato, soybean, and feed corn. With this decision came the immediate opportunity to purchase 106 acres of prime preserved farmland also through the Farmland Preservation Program contiguous to their farm.
Seeing a new opportunity, Stults Farm began offering a “CSA” (Community Supported Agriculture) program and farmstand to satiate consumers appetite for local, fresh fruits and vegetables. However, Stults Farm continued its legacy “pick your own” pumpkins during the fall harvest season for nearby families and customers.
The Stults family has adapted and transformed its farm throughout the five generations and look forward to carrying on their successful farming business for years to come.
Fun Fact: Stults Farm has been in existence longer than Plainsboro has been incorporated!
Century Farm Award-Stella Farms
Stella Farms has been growing fresh produce for over 100 years. Started in 1921 by Joe and Rose Stella who originally wanted to provide fruits and vegetables to their growing family in Winslow Township. Italian farmers were known for growing an abundant amount so any “extra” was put out on a wagon in front to be sold. Granddaughter Barbara recalls selling cabbage - 3 heads for a quarter at the age of five. Thanks to their grandparents, the family inherited a strong work ethic and love for the land and farming.
Now 5 generations later, the farm is run by Barbara and her brother Ed Stella. It is most notably known for their sweet corn, tomatoes, beans, and strawberries which they offer at their farm stand. They take pride in maintaining enriched soil naturally through the use of cover crops creating good nitrogen in the soil which they have found to make a difference year after year.
In 2022 Stella Farms added 53 acres of Farmland Preservation to prevent future development and guarantee the land will remain farmland. Stella’s Farm is approximately 121 acres overall, on multiple parcels in Camden County. They are currently working on preserving another parcel of land. Barbara and Ed’s father, Ed Stella, lived until he was 97 and ran the farm till he was 96. “My brother and I intend to do the same thing,” along with the help of other family members.
Barbara believes customers keep coming back to the market because the farm is focused on freshness - selling items the same day they are picked. They employ roughly 40 employees who work very hard to offer the best produce to their customers each season.
Fun Fact: Instead of a pickup truck, Ed Stella drove an old, beat-up Chrysler at the farm. It was clearly a farm vehicle — the car is now on display at the farm market as a tribute to past generations.
Now 5 generations later, the farm is run by Barbara and her brother Ed Stella. It is most notably known for their sweet corn, tomatoes, beans, and strawberries which they offer at their farm stand. They take pride in maintaining enriched soil naturally through the use of cover crops creating good nitrogen in the soil which they have found to make a difference year after year.
In 2022 Stella Farms added 53 acres of Farmland Preservation to prevent future development and guarantee the land will remain farmland. Stella’s Farm is approximately 121 acres overall, on multiple parcels in Camden County. They are currently working on preserving another parcel of land. Barbara and Ed’s father, Ed Stella, lived until he was 97 and ran the farm till he was 96. “My brother and I intend to do the same thing,” along with the help of other family members.
Barbara believes customers keep coming back to the market because the farm is focused on freshness - selling items the same day they are picked. They employ roughly 40 employees who work very hard to offer the best produce to their customers each season.
Fun Fact: Instead of a pickup truck, Ed Stella drove an old, beat-up Chrysler at the farm. It was clearly a farm vehicle — the car is now on display at the farm market as a tribute to past generations.