About 180 acres of a nearly century-old cranberry farm in Southampton, Burlington County, will be preserved as open space for public recreation after being bought last month by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

The nonprofit foundation purchased the land in the Pine Barrens for $269,739, officials from the organization announced, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. They said preserving the farm, which was started more than 90 years ago, will protect water quality within the Rancocas Creek watershed and provide wetland habitat for critical species.

The property was part of a farm owned by the Mehler family for generations under the Rancocas Cranberry Co., the Inquirer reported. Craig Mehler, the cranberry company’s president, will keep 33 acres of active cranberry bogs and continue to sell the fruit to Ocean Spray.

NJ Conservation paid for the land with funds from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program, Pinelands Preservation Alliance and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant. The Open Space Institute contributed money through a fund of the William Penn Foundation. Ducks Unlimited also contributed money toward costs associated with the purchase.

Although NJ Conservation will own the property, the organization plans to partner with the Pinelands Preservation Alliance to manage the land and host outdoor education programs.