Mount grew up on his parents’ farm, Mount Farms, along Route 1, attended Princeton High School, and graduated from Princeton University in 1966 with a degree in psychology.
After college, he and Pam served three years as Peace Corps volunteers in Micronesia before returning to New Jersey and purchasing the 55-acre Terhune Orchards on Cold Soil Road. The farm celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. (See “Terhune Celebrates 50 Years on the Family Farm,” U.S. 1, July 16, 2025.)
“At the time, no one had bought farmland in the area to actively farm in decades, but they were determined to build a thriving, working retail farm,” an obituary published by Terhune Orchards said. “It was important to Gary to pursue a career and lifestyle that allowed him to spend as much time as possible with his children as they grew up.”
The tribute continues:
“Their hard work and vision paid off. Today, Terhune Orchards has grown into a successful 250-acre retail farming operation that helped ignite the community-based farming movement and has become a beloved destination in Central New Jersey for generations of families.
“Gary was a visionary and driving force over the last 50 years for the agricultural and local community. In the early 1980s, through New Jersey Future, Gary spearheaded a grassroots effort that led to passage of the Farmland Preservation Act of 1982. The act enabled farmers to sell their development rights to the state, local government, or a conservation group with a deed restriction limiting future use of the property to farming. Today, a third of New Jersey farmland — including all of Terhune Orchards 250 acres — is preserved in this way.
“He was active in securing funding for preservation of the Watershed Organic Farm and served on the board of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. He was also a commissioner of the New Jersey Water Supply Authority.
“In addition to his role in preserving farmland and open space, Gary was an impactful leader in many New Jersey agricultural organizations, including the state and Mercer County boards of agriculture, the Mercer County Soil Conservation District, the Trenton Farmers’ Market board, the Howell Living History Farm founding trustee and board, Princeton Agricultural, NJ State Horticultural Association, president and treasurer; International Fruit Tree Association, trustee.
“In 2005, American Fruit Grower Magazine named him Apple Grower of the Year, and in 2012 the International Fruit Tree Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame. He was a mentor to many new and younger farmers, always welcoming and giving advice.
“An avid learner his whole life, Gary strove to find new ways to grow crops, new technologies to implement, and always looked for a new challenge or innovation.”
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 14, at 1:30 p.m. at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Lawrence. Memorial contributions may be made to New Jersey Horticultural Society Research Grants and International Fruit Tree Association Research.
