Bill Text: NJ S1953 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directs Dept. of Agriculture to authorize and advise food hubs.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2020-01-13 - Approved P.L.2019, c.303. [S1953 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S1953-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 1953

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 2018

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  STEVEN V. OROHO

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Senator  NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Directs Dept. of Agriculture to authorize and advise food hubs.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the establishment of food hubs as agricultural cooperatives and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.    a. The Department of Agriculture shall authorize the establishment of food hubs in the State, and establish guidelines to assist and support farms and farmers seeking to belong to food hubs in their area of the State.  The department, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for the establishment and operation of food hubs.

      b.   As used in this section, "food hub" means a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products primarily from local or regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand.

 

      2.   This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to:

     -- authorize the establishment of food hubs in the State;

     -- establish guidelines to assist and support farms and farmers seeking to belong to food hubs in their area of the State; and

     -- adopt regulations to implement the bill.

     The bill defines "food hub" as a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products primarily from local or regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand.