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Koi: A different kind of farming
Phil Dunn
The 2008 Legislator's Farm Tour took place Wednesday, highlighting some of South Jersey's evolving agricultural industries including a very unique stop here.
The stop at the Quality Koi Company showed a different view of New Jersey agriculture to the many legislators and government officials present.
Charles Kuperus, secretary of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, was present along with many other state officials.
"It's important for the people to experience first-hand what is going on in South Jersey," said Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, who took the tour. "I think this is a phenomenal way for us to get out of the office and see the work of our state."
Quality Koi Company has been owned and operated by Joseph Zuritsky since 1997. He learned about koi after a trip to Japan and then started the company at his home. He then broadening its location to Carneys Point in 2001.
With only six full-time staff, the company deals with the sale of high quality koi for wholesale or retail purchase. It has clients from all over the nation.
Tara Morgan, a wholesale coordinator for the company, led the tour through their facilities.
"The majority of our farm consist of mud ponds and greenhouses that hold the male and female koi for breeding," said Morgan.
Morgan continued the tour and talked to the distinguished guests about the breeding process and the grades of koi.
The average life span for a koi in captivity is 35 years, according to Morgan. When in nature, koi have life spans up to 100 years. Quality Koi sells the fish from prices ranging from $15 to $50,000.
The company buys its koi from Japan and through training there they have been able to breed koi successfully here in the states.
Each fish carries a specific trait in their genetics and breeding season is in late April. A female koi can lay more than 250,000 eggs in a spawn. The company takes anywhere from 10,000 of those eggs for sale.
"We take the koi we breed and bring them to koi shows. Our main goal is to one day win the Grand Master award," said Morgan. "We want to be the first Americans to win the award."
The highest grade of koi is chosen for this award.
Grades of koi are based on four distinct features: Skin quality, coats of paint, body shape and pattern. Every fish is unique - no two fish are the same.
Quality Koi ends their season with a harvest festival the last weekend in October. This event brings together koi enthusiasts from all over the country to see their koi taken out of the mud pond for inspection.
This allows them to see their fish and to tell if it have reached their peak. Once the peak is reached, the owner can take it home or sell the fish. If not, the fish is allowed to stay in the Quality Koi ponds.
Assemblyman Doug Fisher was on hand to take part in the farm tour, especially enjoying the end when all were give the chance to try to catch their own koi.
"This is not just about corn and tomatoes. We are here to see new types of agriculture in our state," said Fisher who chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee. "We want to demonstrate what the agriculture department is providing."
Other government officials took part in the tour including Assemblywomen Alison McHose, Marcia Karrow, Dawn Addiego and Assemblymen Louis Greenwald and John Amedeo.
The tour continued through 3 p.m. with stops in Logan Township's Dream Park, Swedesboro's Sun Valley Orchards, and Richwood's Heritage Station Winery.
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