Bill > A5112

Introduced Session

The bill would create a nine-member "Ethnic Produce Task Force" within the Department of Agriculture. New Jersey is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the nation. With this diversity comes the potential for farmers to grow and sell new varieties of produce to consumers if they know and understand the demand. This legislation is intended to help growers learn of the market demands of all consumers and improve the viability of farms in the State. The membership of the task force would be as follows: (1) Five members would be appointed by the Governor: two representing the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association; one representing the New Jersey Farm Bureau; one representing the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; and one person active in the food processing industry; and (2) The remaining four members would be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly. The two members appointed by the President of the Senate would be required to include a farmer actively engaged in agricultural or horticultural production, selected from a list of three candidates proposed by the State Board of Agriculture, and a representative of retail grocery stores. The two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly would be required to include a farmer actively engaged in agricultural or horticultural production, selected from a list of three candidates proposed by the State Board of Agriculture, and a representative of retail grocery stores. The Secretary of Agriculture would appoint a chairperson of the task force from among its members and the task force would appoint a vice-chairperson from among its members. The Ethnic Produce Task Force would be required to, within one year after the appointment of a majority of its members: (1) study and analyze economic data relating to demand for ethnic produce in New Jersey; (2) determine which types of ethnic produce can be grown and harvested in New Jersey; (3) identify businesses that need locally grown ethnic produce; (4) publicize the advantages of using fresh locally grown ethnic produce to ethnic food preparers; (5) develop recommendations on strategies to increase sales and consumption of ethnic produce; (6) examine, consider, and make recommendations to New Jersey farmers to grow and harvest certain ethnic produce; and (7) submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a report with any recommendations to farmers regarding the demand to grow and harvest certain ethnic produce in New Jersey.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Alex Sauickie (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee (on 12/12/2024)

Official Document