Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ROY FREIMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Senator PAUL A. SARLO
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblymen Karabinchak, Stanley, Sauickie, Spearman, Assemblywoman Lampitt, Assemblyman Conaway, Senators Oroho and Turner
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Agritourism Fund; requires annual appropriation of $2.5 million from General Fund; appropriates $2.5 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Agritourism Fund and requiring an appropriation to the fund of $2.5 million annually from the General Fund, and supplementing chapter 1A of Title 34 of the Revised Statutes and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
“Agritourism” means a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production or agricultural processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, winery, brewery, or other agricultural business for the purpose of entertaining or educating the visitors and generating income for the farm, ranch, winery, brewery, or agricultural business owner.
b. There is established in the Department of State a nonlapsing revolving fund to be known as the “Agritourism Fund,” to be held separate and apart from all other funds of the State. The Division of Travel and Tourism shall administer the fund and ensure that monies deposited in the fund, and any interest earned thereon, shall be used for the purpose of making grants to New Jersey businesses involved in agritourism. The division shall award grants annually through a process established by the division.
c. There shall be appropriated annually from the General Fund to the Department of State the sum of $2.5 million for deposit in the “Agritourism Fund” to effectuate the purposes and objectives of this section. Any unspent monies in the fund shall be carried forward.
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of State the sum of $2,500,000 for deposit in the “Agritourism Fund” to effectuate the purposes and objectives of this act, P.L. , c. (C.) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides a recurring source of funding for agritourism, a significant part of farm-related revenue in New Jersey.
This bill defines “agritourism” as a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production or agricultural processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, winery, brewery, or other agricultural business for the purpose of entertaining or educating visitors and generating income for the farm, ranch, winery, brewery, or agricultural business owner. This bill would establish the “Agritourism Fund” and require an appropriation to the fund of $2.5 million annually from the General Fund. The Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State would administer the fund and dispense grants to New Jersey businesses involved in agritourism.
According to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s 2017 Census of Agriculture, New Jersey ranks seventh nationally in the percent of farm revenue derived from agritourism, with agritourism accounting for over a fifth of the State’s total farm revenue. However, the number of New Jersey farms participating in agritourism has declined from the last census count, highlighting the importance of supporting farms and other agricultural businesses that participate in agritourism and ensuring that as many New Jersey agricultural businesses as possible can benefit from the income agritourism generates. New Jersey’s rich agricultural history, and its official nickname, the Garden State, are worthy of continued investment.