These 14 Rare Photos Show New Jersey’s Farming History Like Never Before

New Jersey is known as the Garden State for a reason. We have a rich history of agriculture and, even today, agriculture is our third largest industry. We've got nearly 10,000 farms, over 700,000 acres of farmland and are top national producers of everything from cranberries to cabbage. And, of course, the blueberry was first cultivated right here in Hammonton. A vital part of our present, let's look back at farms of the past.

1. This photo was snapped around a century ago in Southampton Township.

2. Bergen County before all the malls. Photo taken over Fair Lawn in 1935.

3. Crop dusting over Seabrook Farms near Vineland circa 1938.

4. Cherry pickers on a Millville farm. Cherries were harvested by local men, women, and children.

5. Carrot pickers near Camden in the mid-1930s. Women used to travel in from Philadelphia to work on Jersey farms.

6. A makeshift farmhouse in Burlington County.

7, A bit under-dressed for the weather, but overdressed for the occasion. Farm on Camp Dix snapped around 1918.

8. 1930s farm equipment. A mechanical potato picker in Monmouth County.

9. Daniel Shoemaker Farm, Mountain Road, Wallpack Center, Sussex County

10. This Burlington County farm building was used to store ice and frozen goods circa 1936.

11. Apparently, "Watermelon Parties" were a thing in 1900. Photo taken on a farm in Woodbine.

12. A corn crib at Knight Farm along Old Mine Road in Sussex County circa the 1930s.

13. The potato farm pictured is located in Hightstown and was one of the state's top producing farms in 1936. The potatoes even pulled in some awards.

14. Packing and sorting houses in Whitesbog circa 1938.

It's so interesting to see how farm equipment has changed, but the photo of Bergen County really blows my mind. For some modern day shots of the Garden State, check out these beautiful barns in New Jersey.