The land, which surrounds this small South Jersey community and stretches through Woodland, Tabernacle and Bass River townships, is located in the Pine Barrens, a 1.1 million-acre region that occupies more than 20% of New Jersey's total land area. The DeMarco tract, officially owned by A.R. DeMarco Enterprises, was accumulated by the family beginning in 1940. The family has been using 800 acres as cranberry bogs and another 300 acres as blueberry fields.

But wetlands disputes with the state and business disputes with the Ocean Spray cranberry cooperative soured DeMarco on the cranberry business, forcing a sale that has been in the works for nearly a year. The sale price of $12 million factors out to less than $1,300 an acre, decidedly a bargain in this development-intensive state.

The NJCF, which has raised an estimated $5 million toward the sale, will pay the rest over the next five years, according to officials. The deal, which is currently in the due diligence phase, is expected to close in November.

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