Camden County Commissioners to Preserve Winslow Township’s Stella Farms

Photo: Stella Farms/Facebook

In an effort to continue preserving farmland and green spaces in Camden County, the Board of Commissioners have purchased the development rights to Stella Farms in Winslow Township, setting its future as a forever farm in stone.

Stella Farms was established in 1921 when Joe and Rose Stella moved to a property on New Freedom Road in Winslow Township and planted a garden.

That garden eventually turned into a fully-fledged farming operation and as of 2022, has had three generations of family members cultivate some of the most beloved fresh fruits and vegetables in the South Jersey region.

“The residents of Camden County and beyond all know and love Stella Farms, particularly for their sweet corn. This farm is a huge asset to our county as it contributes to the state’s output of sweet corn,” said Commissioner Jeff Nash, liaison to the Parks Department. “Not only does Stella’s produce large amounts of this precious crop, but they also draw buyers to Winslow Township from all over the region. Some come from nearby communities like Berlin and Clementon while others travel from places as far as Atlantic City and Philadelphia, just to purchase this farm’s top-quality produce.”

Aside from the economic benefits that come from preserving this land, the Board of Commissioners felt it was crucial to protect this 101-year-old family-run farm from potential development.

“Allowing developers to possibly buy a farm with such a rich family history would be a travesty,” Nash said. “We recognized this possibility and determined that action needed to be taken immediately to protect this wonderful green space and the Stella family’s 101-year-old legacy.”

The Camden County Board of Commissioners was able to purchase the development rights to Stella Farms by using Open Space funds which are facilitated by the Camden County Open Space Advisory Committee.

The committee plays a vital role by allowing the county to continue preserving parks, natural areas, historic sites, and farmland, not only for their scenic value, but for their use and enjoyment, and for purposes of cultural and ecological enrichment. Camden County has preserved 2,040 acres of active park space and 2,060 acres of open passive greenspace in the last two decades.

“We are committed to continuing to preserve and enhance the natural environment to ensure Camden County remains a special place to live,” Nash said. “Whether that’s through the Green Acres Program or initiatives like Parks Alive 2025, a $100 million plan to revitalize the county’s 24 parks, conservation areas, and waterways, the green spaces and farmland here in Camden County will always be prioritized.”