Monmouth County farm owner says officials not allowing his drive-thru tulip show

The coronavirus has nipped an annual Monmouth County tulip show in the bud, leaving the owners of a farm in a huge financial hole.

News 12 Staff

Apr 20, 2020, 2:07 AM

Updated 1,477 days ago

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The coronavirus has nipped an annual Monmouth County tulip show in the bud, leaving the owners of a farm in a huge financial hole.
Over one million tulips are in full bloom at Holland Ridge Farm in Cream Ridge. It's a dazzling, colorful display meant for thousands to enjoy, but this year the public won't be able to.
"I got a phone call the night before I was to open after I invested thousands more dollars on more signage, that the attorney general gave me an executive order that I am not allowed to open," says Casey Janen, owner of Holland Ridge Farms.
The owners of the farm invested $1 million and planted the bulbs in November in anticipation of the annual tulip show in April.
Because of the coronavirus, they decided this year that the show would be drive-thru only. Despite the change to make sure the public stays safe, he says the attorney general shut him down.
In order to try and make up for some of the losses, Holland Ridge farm is selling tulips through curbside pick-up.
Jansen says that it won't make up for his more than $1 million loss.
"When I got notified about the executive order of not opening I immediately had to lay off 30 people because we didn't need that many people to just do curbside pick up," he said.
The Attorney General's Office says events of any size can't take place in order to limit the spread of coronavirus. It says some businesses, like farms and garden centers, can still accept online and pick-up orders.
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