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I live in Chester, New jersey and we, unfortunately, have become a Mecca for agro-tourism. This time of year, the urbanites are out in force to drink up the lovely colorful fall vistas along with fresh cider made locally.
Most of the working farms in town run a rather modest affairs. Some have hay rides, and pick-your-own pumpkins and apples. They offer rather subdued family fun.
I know that the farms are what make my town so special, and they must make money, but one farm decided to take it WAY too far.
Alstede farms, not more than 3 miles from my house, blew up their business into a orgy of pandemonium.
They advertised in the New York Times, and almost every city newspaper to attract visitors. This promotion worked and over the last 3 years there farm has seen THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of visitors each and every fall weekend.
The farm itself started out a over century ago as just that, a farm. They had a respectable size stand to sell there produce. The only change that was made to accommodate all of the visitors was half the farm was converted into a grass covered parking lot. The farm simply can not handle the huge amount of people flocking to it.
Over the last three years, Alstede's has converted themselves into that which farm laws were not meant to cover. They converted themselves into a full size county fair complete with attractions, a bounce house, a petting
zoo, and other rides and attractions.
Today, their produce stand has been torn down and a converted barn is used instead. Alstede's is also now selling mostly items that have not come from their farm. There might be a bushel or two of apples, but every thing else (crafts, candy, baked goods, etc) come straight from the manufacturer.
This is a long way from being just a poor honest farmer trying to sell what he, himself, has raised.
Last year, this circus gat way out of hand and most of the town complained. Last year, most considered Alstede's as a disaster just waiting to happen, and some were even very vocal about it.
Turns out they were right. On Sunday, a little 2 year old girl was killed and here mother hospitalized when they were crushed between two shuttle buses.
Here is the article from our local "patch". The true shame here is that this all could have been avoided. All the town council needed to do was listen to what the local residents were saying...
http://patch.com/new-jersey/mendham...rise-wake-fatal-crash-alstedes-0#.VD0Lx1_D_3g
Most of the working farms in town run a rather modest affairs. Some have hay rides, and pick-your-own pumpkins and apples. They offer rather subdued family fun.
I know that the farms are what make my town so special, and they must make money, but one farm decided to take it WAY too far.
Alstede farms, not more than 3 miles from my house, blew up their business into a orgy of pandemonium.
They advertised in the New York Times, and almost every city newspaper to attract visitors. This promotion worked and over the last 3 years there farm has seen THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of visitors each and every fall weekend.
The farm itself started out a over century ago as just that, a farm. They had a respectable size stand to sell there produce. The only change that was made to accommodate all of the visitors was half the farm was converted into a grass covered parking lot. The farm simply can not handle the huge amount of people flocking to it.
Over the last three years, Alstede's has converted themselves into that which farm laws were not meant to cover. They converted themselves into a full size county fair complete with attractions, a bounce house, a petting
zoo, and other rides and attractions.
Today, their produce stand has been torn down and a converted barn is used instead. Alstede's is also now selling mostly items that have not come from their farm. There might be a bushel or two of apples, but every thing else (crafts, candy, baked goods, etc) come straight from the manufacturer.
This is a long way from being just a poor honest farmer trying to sell what he, himself, has raised.
Last year, this circus gat way out of hand and most of the town complained. Last year, most considered Alstede's as a disaster just waiting to happen, and some were even very vocal about it.
Turns out they were right. On Sunday, a little 2 year old girl was killed and here mother hospitalized when they were crushed between two shuttle buses.
Here is the article from our local "patch". The true shame here is that this all could have been avoided. All the town council needed to do was listen to what the local residents were saying...
http://patch.com/new-jersey/mendham...rise-wake-fatal-crash-alstedes-0#.VD0Lx1_D_3g