Designates blueberry muffin as State Muffin.

A4149

ASSEMBLY, No. 4149

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates blueberry muffin as State Muffin.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
designating the blueberry muffin as the New Jersey
State Muffin.

Whereas,

The blueberry muffin is a delicious snack that is rich in flavor and enjoyed by
residents throughout the State of New Jersey and the United States; and

Whereas,

The blueberry muffin is incredibly versatile, able to serve as part of a
healthy breakfast or as a sweet and decadent dessert; and

Whereas,

Blueberries taste good, are high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, are
sodium and cholesterol-free, are low in calories, and may provide medical and
health benefits, including helping to prevent cancer and heart disease; and

Whereas,

The key to creating a delicious and flavorful blueberry muffin is using fresh
blueberries grown in the fertile and acidic soils of New Jersey; and

Whereas,

Our State has a rich and long-standing association with the blueberry which,
due to its mouthwatering taste, its many nutritional and health benefits, and
its indisputable economic importance, was designated as the official State
Fruit in 2003; and

Whereas,

The highbush blueberry is indigenous to New Jersey, where it was first cultivated
for commercial production by Elizabeth White and Frederick Covile, who in the
early 1900�s dedicated themselves to the study, domestication, and breeding of
blueberries at Whitesbog, in Browns Mills, New Jersey; and

Whereas,

In 1916, White and Coville harvested and sold the first commercial crop of
highbush blueberries, and soon thereafter blueberry fever swept the country;
and

Whereas,

Today, New Jersey is consistently among the top-five producers of blueberries
in the nation, producing approximately 50 million pounds of blueberries worth
an estimated $70 million annually; and

Whereas,

In the heart of southern New Jersey, Hammonton, in Atlantic County, is widely
recognized as the �Blueberry Capital of the World�; and

Whereas,

It is altogether fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to officially
acknowledge the importance and delightful taste of the blueberry muffin; now,
therefore,

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

���� 1.��� The blueberry muffin is
designated as the New Jersey State Muffin.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill designates the
blueberry muffin as the New Jersey State Muffin.

���� New Jersey is the home of the
commercial blueberry, which was first domesticated in Browns Mills in the early
20th century by Elizabeth White and Frederick Covile.� White and Coville
accomplished this by selectively breeding the native highbush blueberry over
the course of many years.� Blueberries now make up a significant proportion of
New Jersey�s agricultural economy and New Jersey is consistently among the
top-five producers of blueberries in the nation, producing approximately 50
million pounds of blueberries worth an estimated $70 million annually.

���� Blueberries taste good, are
high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, are sodium and cholesterol-free,
are low in calories, and may provide medical and health benefits, including helping
to prevent cancer and heart disease.� Blueberry muffins are able to highlight
both the healthfulness and the great taste of the blueberry, since they can be
enjoyed as a high fiber breakfast food, or as a sweet dessert.

���� It is therefore proper and
fitting for the State of New Jersey to recognize the significance of the
blueberry to the State and the delightful taste of the blueberry muffin by
designating the blueberry muffin as the New Jersey State Muffin.