NJAES Faculty Expertise Database

Impacts: Madeline Flahive DiNardo coordinated a “Where to Find ‘Jersey Fresh’ in Union County” farm market and garden center promotion which included brochures, cable television advertising, an internet site, and nutrition education demonstrations. Seventeen Union County businesses participated in the promotion, which reached over 12, 000 consumers. One hundred-eighty Union County consumers participated in the marketing survey developed by Agent Flahive DiNardo. The survey results show that the promotion has been effective at prompting consumers to purchase “Jersey Fresh” commodities at county farm markets and garden centers. • 80% of the consumers visited businesses advertised in the promotion. • Consumers visited an average of three businesses participating in the promotion. • Consumers spent an average of $11-$20 on a visits • 635 visits to local farm markets and garden centers were made. • Using an average expenditure of $20, the promotion brought at least $12,700 in sales to Union County businesses. Agent Flahive DiNardo and her colleagues in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex counties coordinate the annual Rutgers Cooperative Extension North Jersey Ornamental Horticulture Conference in which turf and landscape professionals and arborists learn integrated pest management tactics and earn pesticide re-certification credits to maintain their pesticide applicator licenses. • 70% of the 337 attendees who had participated in past conferences indicated that they changed pest control practices as a result of the training. • Changes in pesticide use included: educating customers, following new pesticide regulations, monitoring for pests, timing of pesticide applications, and now spot treating problems. Participants alternated to different, new, or “biological” controls. Many noted that they are practicing Integrated Pest Management. • 53% of the participants, who have attended the program in the past, indicated they use fewer pesticides as a result of the training. Agent Flahive DiNardo coordinates the Rutgers Union County Master Gardener program. A “Sharing Garden” project, in which Union County Master Gardeners grow vegetables from seed and donate the produce to 10 Union county food banks, has yielded 1,760.5 pounds of produce with a retail value of $3,349.25 dollars.