Bill > S2367

Introduced Session

This bill would establish the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" in the Department of Agriculture. The bill requires the department to adopt regulations that: (1) provide encouragement for public institutions of higher education that provide meal programs to expand or improve their kitchen facilities to allow for the daily production of meals that incorporate more fresh, locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products; (2) establish a bidding matrix that provides for public institutions of higher education to purchase New Jersey grown food and allows them to adopt price preferences for local agricultural and farm products; (3) in conjunction with the Secretary of Higher Education, develop ways in which public institutions of higher education can increase the procurement of locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products for use in meals; and (4) create a public directory for New Jersey farmers with contact information of purchasing agents at public institutions of higher education, and another public directory for purchasers with information about qualified New Jersey farmers and distributors. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program" website that provides information on the program, and includes a copy of any public contract or other written agreement for the purchase of fresh foods and the provision thereof to students, which has been entered into and successfully implemented by a public institution of higher education. Finally, the bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to solicit and accept contributions from private and public sources for the purpose of providing support to help fund the "New Jersey Farm to Public Institution of Higher Education Program," which encourages public institutions of higher education to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate in meals throughout the growing season, and to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students.

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Samuel Thompson (D)*, 

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (on 12/18/2017)