NJ S355

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for the Jersey Fresh marketing and promotion program as a FY 2024 supplemental appropriation

Jersey Fresh is an advertising and marketing program established in 1984 that informs consumers about locally grown produce; current annual funding is $100,000, down from over $1 million per year historically

Intended to replace federal USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant funds currently used for Jersey Fresh, where up to 50% of those federal grants go toward the program

Freeing up the federal block grant funds would increase money available to New Jersey farmers and organizations through the USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant program

Sponsored by Senators Douglas J. Steinhardt (District 23) and Owen Henry (District 12)