Samaha’s Farm, famous for its sweet corn, has been a mainstay in Monmouth County, New Jersey for over 60 years. Today, three generations of the Samaha Family are involved in farming their own land in Aberdeen, as well as farms across the County, and running their beloved farm market. Our team at MCF has gotten to know the Samahas very well in recent years, as they work with us and partners to permanently preserve their farmland and carry on their community-oriented legacy of hard work, sustainable farming, and delicious produce. The Samaha family’s story is a quintessential example of the many, increasing challenges farmers face, and how their strong will and the public’s support keep farmers and their farms going – for everyone’s benefit.

Samaha’s Farm History

Samahas’ farming story began in 1958 when 12-year-old John Samaha fulfilled his dream of working on a farm after his mother shared a newspaper ad for “Farm Hand: $1 Per Hour.” In 1963, John officially opened Samaha’s Farm as a small wagon on the side of Lloyd Road in his hometown of Aberdeen – just a few hundred feet from the location of today’s farm market.

*John Samaha, 1962. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

*Original Farm Wagon. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

Fruit and vegetable sales from the farm wagon supported John’s college pursuits, and he ultimately earned a music education degree in 1967 from William Paterson College (now William Paterson University). John continued farming to supplement his salary as a music teacher, as he built his family. He married the love of his life, Yvonne, in 1976, and three years later, expanded the business into a permanent, open-air farm market that still stands today, known to many as “The Corn Store.”

*Samaha’s Farm Store in the 1970s. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

Yvonne and John had three daughters together, each of whom grew up helping with the farm and market. Their middle daughter, Nora, really took to farm life – so much so, that in a third-grade project, she vowed to become a teacher and a farmer, and she has made both a reality! Through her high school and college years, Nora began taking on an increasingly integral role in the family business. Between semesters, and then as she began her teaching career in Hazlet, Nora ran the farm market.

Nora’s husband, Marcus Pettyjohn Jr., felt the same draw to farming and began learning the secrets of farming from John, while he ran his successful landscaping company and studied horticulture. Several years later, Marcus transitioned his career to full-time farming, as Nora continued teaching and ultimately took over management of the farm market and the marketing and IT aspects of the business.

The couple has three children of their own, who love taking part in the farm and market. Their family lives on their own small farm in Morganville, where they recently opened a small satellite farm market – Samaha’s on the Homestead. Marcus also serves on the Monmouth County Board of Agriculture, which seeks to preserve the agriculture industry and farming throughout the county relevant to the County’s Farmland Preservation Plan.

*Yvonne Samaha, pictured here in the 1970s, ran the farm store for many years. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

“It is wonderful to pass the torch within our family and keep our farm going when farms across the country are dwindling. Nora has always had an affinity and the skills to oversee the store, and Marcus was never afraid to get his hands dirty,” said John Samaha.

Yvonne and John Samaha. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.

*The Pettyjohn Family. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm*

The Fruits of Labor

Brothers Richard and John Samaha collectively own 17.4 acres of land in Aberdeen, which serve as the family farm headquarters and the location for the main farm store. Sweet corn is their biggest product, but their tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and zucchinis are also popular. Samaha’s Farm exclusively grows produce that is not genetically modified – meaning the genetic makeup of their crops has not been altered, known commonly as non-GMO.

*Corn field at Samaha’s Farm. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

The Samaha’s Farm farms a total of 120 acres, working their own land and leasing land locally in Colts Neck, Holmdel, and Marlboro – much of which is preserved farmland. Additional, locally sourced produce, flowers, and other farm products are sold at the farm market. Samaha-grown produce can be found in local stores like Dearborn Market and Delicious Orchards. The Samahas also regularly donate surplus items from their harvest to local food pantries.

*Jersey Tomatoes growing on fields leased by the Samahas in Holmdel. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

*Richard and John Samaha as children. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

“The Samaha Family’s role in farming lands across our county is a valuable service that helps maintain our Garden State’s agricultural industry and fosters an important network of farmers,” said MCF’s Director of Acquisitions, Jena Cosimo.

Preserving Farm Life

Both Richard and John feel strongly about conserving farmland and their way of life. While Richard finds passion tinkering with heavy machinery, the brothers’ values are aligned, and their support for each other is unwavering. Richard, who owns the lion share of their farmland in Aberdeen, has fended off developers wanting to buy their land and build high-density housing for decades.

Samaha’s Farm stands today as the only remaining farmland in the Aberdeen area. Facing continuous development pressure, John suggested preservation, and the family reached out to us at MCF. Since 2022, we have been working with the Samahas, Aberdeen Township, and Monmouth County to collaboratively preserve their land, forever. We continue to work to secure the necessary funding to purchase conservation easements on the land and hope to preserve Samaha’s.

*Aerial of a portion of Samaha’s Farm. Photo by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions.*

Support Your Local Farmers

Since childhood, the Samahas have watched farmland and green space get developed repeatedly – a scenario most of us know all too well. Monmouth County’s farmland has shown a significant decline since the 1950’s. One example - the historic Hop Brook Farm in Holmdel, a plot of land the Samahas currently farm, once boasted roughly 140 acres. Today, only 25 acres remain.

Many times, public outcry comes too late when news breaks of a farm being sold or a green space being developed, and they are lost forever. We must be proactive, before it's too late. Residents can speak up for farmland and green space preservation and support open space programs through their local government. They can also support nonprofit land trusts like MCF who help facilitate land preservation.

*Nora and Marcus Pettyjohn, Jr. Photo courtesy of Samaha’s Farm.*

Another big part of the solution is to support local farms. Purchasing local farm products and participating in agritourism activities creates a demand for farmers and farms. In an age of convenience with big box stores and ultra-fast delivery, it’s easy to be persuaded to forego local options, but building your local farm(s) into your routine puts fresh, nutritious food on your table and keeps the farming profitable – keeping farmers in business and developers at bay.

“As a mom, I want convenience, but I also want the healthiest options for my family. Shopping local farms ensures I am getting the freshest produce, without the additives and packaging,” said Nora Pettyjohn.

Patronizing local farms is also an enriching experience. It’s a great way to teach children where our food comes from, and many local farms like Samaha’s offer fun and educational agritourism activities. From pick-your-own experiences to farming demonstrations, to hayrides and corn mazes, to petting zoos and pony rides, there is so much to see and do.

At Samaha’s Annual Fall Festival, guests can enjoy a pumpkin patch, music and entertainment, narrated hayrides complete with kids’ jokes and an animated hunt for the Witch of Aberdeen, animal encounters, bounce houses and slides, and more. To learn more about local farms and agritourism in our area visit Grown in Monmouth, a program of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners developed to promote our agricultural industry.

*Samaha’s Farm Pumpkin Patch. Photo by Karen Keene.*

Farming Challenges

Farming offers countless benefits but comes with myriad challenges. Year-round, farmers are planning, innovating, and implementing to prepare for the upcoming growing season and combat these challenges.

“We are at the mercy of the Lord, and I talk to him every day,” said John Samaha.

Aside from development pressures for housing and commercial uses like warehouses, farmers must navigate the earth’s changing climate and unpredictable weather. Last year, New Jersey experienced a record-setting drought, which impacted harvests, and in other years, damaging storms have knocked down or washed away fields.

Wildlife poses additional obstacles. Farmers must employ innovative strategies to fend off destructive populations of animals like deer, geese, and blackbirds, who would otherwise ravage their crops.

Farmers are constantly battling pests and diseases. The Samaha’s utilize integrated pest management (IPM), a science-based method using a variety of techniques to control pests that do not rely primarily on pesticides. Like many farmers, the Samahas seek guidance from experts at the Rutgers University New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

As in most industries, farmers are also at the mercy of the supply chain. Prices for seed, equipment, fertilizer, fuel, and almost every other input continue to rise. Maintaining a skilled workforce and reliable farm workers is also a challenge. Samaha’s Farm participates in the H-2A Visa program, which allows foreign workers to legally come to the United States on a temporary visa to perform agricultural labor. The program is intended to help employers who are unable to find enough domestic workers.

Farm to Family

With the average age of farmers on the rise and fewer young people looking to become farmers, the future of many farm operations is unknown. Unlike many farmers, the Samaha family (and our community) are blessed to have their family-owned and operated farm business with next generation farmers committed to the farm.

Farming is a year-round, sunup to sundown labor of love. Through and through, the Samaha Family is dedicated to farmland, farm life, and our community. After spending just a few minutes with the family, it’s abundantly clear that the Samahas are in this together and in this to stay. It truly is a family affair.