McKEON 'JERSEY FRESH FARM TO SCHOOL WEEK' MEASURE APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

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More 'Jersey Fresh' in Schools Would Help Grow Economy, Cultivate Healthier

Food Choices in Children, Harvest Support for Farmers, Says McKeon

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John F. McKeon to declare a 'Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week' was unanimously approved Monday by the Assembly.

Under the measure (A-2854), events would be planned in schools throughout the state for a week in September to promote the value and importance of New Jersey's agriculture and fresh farm food for children.

"New Jersey has a rich range of local produce and is one of the nation's top-ten producers of fruits and vegetables varying from blueberries, peaches and bell peppers to tomatoes, cucumbers and cranberries," McKeon (D-Essex) said. "Educating our children about our state's diverse and delicious agricultural fare and the nutritious value of local and safe 'Jersey Fresh' produce, will help them cultivate healthier food choices and make them aware of the importance of supporting local farmers."

The "Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week" would enhance the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s estimated $2.5 million

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program for the school calendar year 2010 to 2011 to help raise the awareness of 'Jersey Fresh' among students and encourage them to sample and eat the healthy and diverse products produced in the state's farms.

Thank you for considering the enclosed measure for coverage. If you would like to interview Assemblyman McKeon on this or any other subject, kindly contact Gita Bajaj (me) at 973-224-4851 cellular and please reply all. Thanks much!

Sincerely,

Gita Bajaj

Press Secretary

Asm. John F. McKeon\ Asm. Upendra J. Chivukula

Chairman, Environment and Solid Waste Committee\ Chairman, Telecom and Utilities Committee

Deputy Speaker\ Deputy Speaker

New Jersey General Assembly

(973) 224-4851 cellular

gbajaj@njleg.org email

bajajgita@yahoo.com personal

NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE

NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:

June 21, 2010

CONTACT:

Gita Bajaj

(973) 224-4851 cellular

gbajaj@njleg.org email

bajajgita@yahoo.com email

McKEON 'JERSEY FRESH FARM TO SCHOOL WEEK' MEASURE APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

More 'Jersey Fresh' in Schools Would Help Grow Economy, Cultivate Healthier

Food Choices in Children, Harvest Support for Farmers, Says McKeon

(TRENTON) Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John F. McKeon to declare a 'Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week' was unanimously approved Monday by the Assembly.

Under the measure (A-2854), events would be planned in schools throughout the state for a week in September to promote the value and importance of New Jersey's agriculture and fresh farm food for children.

"New Jersey has a rich range of local produce and is one of the nation's top-ten producers of fruits and vegetables varying from blueberries, peaches and bell peppers to tomatoes, cucumbers and cranberries," McKeon (D-Essex) said. "Educating our children about our state's diverse and delicious agricultural fare and the nutritious value of local and safe 'Jersey Fresh' produce, will help them cultivate healthier food choices and make them aware of the importance of supporting local farmers."

The measure also calls for the New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to create a bidding matrix that would encourage schools to purchase 'Jersey Fresh' by providing price preferentials for local agricultural and farm products.

"As we grow our state's economy on the path of economic recovery, 'Jersey Fresh' needs to continue to be an important focus," McKeon said. "By encouraging our schools to purchase local fare, we would be helping farmers stay on their lands and providing a boost to New Jersey's $1.12 billion agricultural industry. We would also be helping tens of thousands of New Jersey residents whose livelihoods depend on our more than 10,300 farms."

Studies show a very high return on the investment in promoting 'Jersey Fresh.' According a Rutgers University report, the $1.1 million spent in 2000 to promote local fare had an economic impact of $63.2 million.This included increased cash receipts of $36.6 million for fruits and vegetables and an additional $26.6 million in economic activity. It also generated an increase in state and local tax revenue by $2.2 million for that year.

The "Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week" would enhance the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s estimated $2.5 million Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program to help raise the awareness of 'Jersey Fresh' fruits and vegetables among school students and encourage them to sample and eat the healthy and diverse products produced in the state's farms.

The state Agriculture Department has selected 101 schools in 15 counties to participate in the program for the school calendar year 2010 to 2011 that will help an estimated 49,250 students learn more about local fruits and vegetables.

McKeon welcomed this initiative by the federal government and also commended the state Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher for their innovative and aggressive programs to promote "Jersey Fresh."

"From the partnership with the Trenton Marriott which has committed to serving local fare in its restaurant to a strategic alliance with the Somerset Medical Center that will purchase 'Jersey Fresh' for the one million meals it serves every year, the department has done a great job in promoting our state's produce," McKeon said.

Somerset Medical Center is the first hospital in the nation to team up with a state agricultural department's farm products branding program.

"The "Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week" measure harvests growing support for our local industry and farming community by encouraging schools to purchase local fare and promoting healthier food choices among our children," McKeon concluded.