Honors 40th anniversary of Jersey Fresh program.

ACR154

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 154

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 15, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� HEATHER SIMMONS

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

SYNOPSIS

���� Honors 40th anniversary of Jersey Fresh program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
honoring the 40th
anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program.

Whereas,

New Jersey�s agricultural and food production, processing, and distribution
industries are critical to promoting food accessibility for New Jersey
residents; and

Whereas,

Agriculture serves a key role in New Jersey�s economy by helping to reduce
municipal taxes, increase property values, and generate significant revenue for
the State; and

Whereas,

In 1984, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (the department) established
the Jersey Fresh program, the first in the nation state-sponsored agricultural
commodity marketing and quality grading program, to promote State agriculture;
and

Whereas,

The Jersey Fresh program identifies locally grown produce with a distinct
Jersey Fresh label to enable consumers to easily distinguish New Jersey produce
from other produce in the marketplace; and

Whereas,

In addition, the program�s quality grading program requires Jersey Fresh
produce to meet U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing grade or better; and

Whereas,

Together with its quality assurance, the Jersey Fresh program guarantees that
produce labeled as Jersey Fresh was freshly harvested in New Jersey at its peak
ripeness, was inspected, and is of high quality; and

Whereas,

The Jersey Fresh program promotes New Jersey�s produce industry, and
specifically family-owned New Jersey farms, through marketing campaigns that
advertise locally grown produce and inform consumers of what produce is in
season; and

Whereas,

The Jersey Fresh program�s two-pronged marketing and quality grading approach
has increased New Jersey consumers� awareness of, and willingness to purchase,
locally harvested produce; and

Whereas,

Consumer recognition of Jersey Fresh products has extended beyond the State to
the mid-Atlantic and New England markets and, in 2020, was on par with that of
other major national brands; and

Whereas,

The Jersey Fresh program serves as a national model for other state-sponsored
agricultural branding programs; and

Whereas,

New Jersey produces over 100 types of fruits and vegetables and is nationally
ranked as a top 10 producer of blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, squash,
tomatoes, and cranberries; and

Whereas,

The Jersey Fresh program has expanded across the State and is available in all
21 counties, including at over 2,000 On-Farm Markets run by local New Jersey
farmers, community farmers markets, major retail stores, wineries, breweries,
and distilleries; and

Whereas,

The Jersey Fresh program�s popularity and demonstrated success in the produce
industry has given rise to similar programs, including the Made with Jersey
Fresh program, which identifies processed food made with fresh, locally sourced
ingredients; the Jersey Grown program, which advertises New Jersey grown
plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers; the Jersey Raised program, which markets
livestock raised in New Jersey; and the Jersey Seafood program, which promotes
aquacultured and wild-caught fish and seafood products harvested off of New
Jersey�s coast; and

Whereas,

The Legislature of the State of New Jersey honors 40 years of the Jersey Fresh
program�s continued innovation and success in promoting locally harvested
produce, supporting family owned farms in New Jersey, and increasing consumers�
awareness of and access to New Jersey grown, quality produce; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

���� 1.� The Legislature of the
State of New Jersey honors the 40th anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program.

���� 2.� Copies of this resolution,
as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the
General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Secretary of the New
Jersey Department of Agriculture and the President of the New Jersey State
Board of Agriculture.

STATEMENT

���� This concurrent resolution
honors the 40th anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program.� The agricultural
industry is critical to ensuring New Jersey residents have access to healthy
food and plays a key role in the State�s economy by helping to keep property
taxes low, increase property values, and garner State revenue.� In 1984, the
New Jersey Department of Agriculture established the Jersey Fresh program, the
first in the nation state-sponsored agricultural commodity marketing and
quality grading program, to promote the State�s agricultural industry.� The
Jersey Fresh program helps support family owned farms across New Jersey through
its marketing campaigns that inform shoppers of what produce is in season and
encourage consumers to shop local.� The Jersey Fresh program�s distinct label
placed on locally harvested produce assists consumers easily differentiate
fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey from other produce in the
marketplace.

���� The Jersey Fresh program
encourages consumers to purchase locally grown produce through its quality and
freshness guarantees.� Specifically, the Jersey Fresh quality grading program
requires Jersey Fresh produce to meet U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing grade or
better.� With this added quality assurance, the Jersey Fresh label guarantees
that its produce was freshly harvested in New Jersey, has been inspected, and
meets high quality standards.

���� The Jersey Fresh program has
demonstrated success in increasing New Jersey consumers� awareness of, and
willingness to purchase, locally harvested produce.� Consumer recognition of
Jersey Fresh products has extended beyond the State to the mid-Atlantic and New
England markets and, in 2020, was on par with that of other major national
brands.� Today, the Jersey Fresh program is recognized as a national model for
other state-sponsored agricultural branding programs.

���� The Jersey Fresh program�s
innovative marketing strategies have contributed to the program�s longevity and
popularity.� New Jersey produces over 100 types of fruits and vegetables and is
nationally ranked in the top 10 producers of blueberries, peaches, bell
peppers, squash, tomatoes, and cranberries.� The Jersey Fresh program has
expanded across the State and is available to New Jersey residents in every
county, including at over 2,000 On-Farm Markets run by local New Jersey
farmers, community farmers markets, major retail stores, wineries, breweries,
and distilleries.� The Jersey Fresh program�s popularity and demonstrated
success has also inspired related programs modeled after the Jersey Fresh
program, including the Made with Jersey Fresh program, which identifies
processed food made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients; the Jersey Grown
program, which advertises New Jersey grown plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers;
the Jersey Raised program, which markets livestock raised in New Jersey; and
the Jersey Seafood program, which promotes aquacultured and wild-caught fish
and seafood products harvested off of New Jersey�s coast.