S1336

An Act concerning the sale of agricultural products made in the State and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

“Department” means the Department of Agriculture.

“Jersey Fresh venue” means a store, kiosk, counter, concession stand, or vending machine, which is designated by the department according to the provisions of this act, and which exclusively sells Jersey Fresh Program products.

“Jersey Fresh Program” has the same definition as that given in section 1 of P.L.2007, c.167 (C.54A:9-25.44).

2. a. The department shall establish a three-year program to promote the Jersey Fresh Program and encourage agricultural tourism by establishing locations in the State that exclusively sell Jersey Fresh products.

b. The department shall:

(1) publish a request for proposals for prospective proprietors of Jersey Fresh venues no later than 90 days after the effective date of this act, and thereafter as appropriate, and shall establish Jersey Fresh venues at State facilities including, but not limited to, service areas along State toll roads, rail stations, State Parks, airports, museums, and event centers, or at other appropriate locations;

(2) enter into contracts to implement the provisions of this act with parties including, but not limited to, proprietors of Jersey Fresh venues, farmers, vendors of agricultural goods, marketers, construction companies, and other State agencies; and

(3) enter into contracts to establish and maintain no fewer than three Jersey Fresh venues, one of which is in northern New Jersey and one of which is in southern New Jersey, unless no acceptable proposals from prospective proprietors of Jersey Fresh venues are forthcoming.

c. A proprietor of a Jersey Fresh venue shall, at a minimum:

(1) demonstrate to the department the ability to reliably provide a consistent, year-round supply of reasonably priced Jersey Fresh Program products;

(2) accept cash, credit, debit, and food vouchers for payments at Jersey Fresh venues; and

(3) donate any surplus produce to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other nonprofit organizations that distribute food to individuals in need located in the State.

d. A contract with a proprietor of a Jersey Fresh venue, entered into pursuant to this section, shall stipulate that the only products offered for sale at Jersey Fresh venues are products that have been approved and labeled according to the rules and regulations governing the Jersey Fresh Program.

e. No later than two years after the effective date of this act, the department shall submit a written report to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) summarizing the program established pursuant to this section, identifying the Jersey Fresh venues and their proprietors, providing the costs and estimated benefits of the program, and providing recommendations for legislative action to promote agricultural tourism and the sale of agricultural goods produced in the State.

3. There is appropriated $500,000 to the department from the General Fund to implement the provisions of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire upon the submittal by the department of the report required pursuant to subsection e. of section 2 of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to establish three-year pilot program to create at least three locations in the State that sell exclusively Jersey Fresh products. The bill appropriates $500,000 for this purpose.

Under the bill, the department would publish a request for proposals for prospective proprietors of the Jersey Fresh venues, which may be freestanding stores, kiosks, counters, or vending machines. The bill directs the department to place the venues at highly trafficked State facilities such as tollway service areas, rail stations, State Parks, airports, museums, and event centers, or at other locations at the discretion of the department.

The bill requires that Jersey Fresh venues sell only products that have been approved for participation in the Jersey Fresh Program. This includes “Jersey Fresh” for fruits and vegetables, “Jersey Seafood” for aquacultured and wild-caught fish and shellfish, and “Made with Jersey Fresh” for processed food made with State-sourced agricultural products.