Designates first full week in August of each year as "Farmers Market Week."

AJR171

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 171

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 4, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� DAWN FANTASIA

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates first full week in August of each year as
�Farmers Market Week.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution

designating the first
full week in August of each year as �Farmers Market Week.�

Whereas,

Farmers markets
provide consumers access to locally grown
fruits, vegetables, and other foods, while also giving farmers the opportunity
to develop a personal relationship with their customers; and

Whereas,

Farmers markets serve local communities by increasing access to fresh,
nutritious, and affordable food, supporting good health, stimulating local
economies, and promoting sustainability; and

Whereas,

Farmers markets and other locally owned food businesses return more than three
times as much of their revenue into the local economy than do chain competitors,
which helps create jobs and boosts local economic activity; and

Whereas,

Farmers markets are expanding access to fresh food for people of
all income levels; and

Whereas,

With support from the United States Department of Agriculture,
more farmers markets offer customers the opportunity to make purchases with the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Women, Infants, and Children
Farmers�
Market Nutrition Program
, and the Senior Farmers� Market
Nutrition Program; and

Whereas,

According to industry estimates, t
he national
market for local and regional foods was valued at $12 billion in 2014;
and

Whereas,

Farmers markets create new business opportunities for farmers interested in
selling sustainably produced food, such as organic products and chemical or pesticide-free
products; and

Whereas,

These markets also encourage farmers and the community to educate each other
about nutrition, cooking, and farming; and

Whereas,

Each year in August, �National Farmers Market Week�
celebrates the farmers, ranchers, and local food businesses, as
well as the communities that support them; and

Whereas,

It is important that
�Farmers Market Week� in New Jersey coincide
with �National Farmers Market Week� so as to properly and fully recognize the
key role these markets have in both the State and the nation; now, therefore,

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

���� 1.��� The first full week of
August in each year is designated as �Farmers Market Week� in the State of New
Jersey.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public
officials and citizens of the State to recognize the key role of farmers
markets in local communities by observing �Farmers Market Week� with
appropriate activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill designates the first
full week in August of each year as �Farmers Market Week� in the State of New
Jersey in order to recognize the key role of these markets in our local
communities.

���� Farmers markets serve local
communities by increasing access to fresh, nutritious, and affordable food,
supporting good health, stimulating local economies, and promoting
sustainability.

����
�Farmers Market
Week� in New Jersey will coincide with �National Farmers Market Week� each year
so as to properly and fully recognize the key role these markets have in both
the State and throughout the nation.