An Act designating “Garden State” as State Slogan of New Jersey and supplementing chapter 9A of Title 52 of Revised Statutes.
Whereas, New Jersey is home to more than 9,701 farms covering 715,057 acres of farmland; and
Whereas, Food and agriculture account for New Jersey’s third largest industry, generating approximately $1.14 billion in total sales in 2012; and
Whereas, In 2012, New Jersey was also a national top-ten producer of cranberries, bell peppers, spinach, peaches, blueberries, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, apples, sweet corn, and snap beans; and
Whereas, The phrase “Garden State” was first made popular by Abraham Browning of Camden, an attorney and the owner of Cherry Hill Farm, when he referred to New Jersey as the “Garden State” while speaking at the Philadelphia Centennial exhibition on New Jersey Day, August 24, 1876; and
Whereas, Abraham Browning’s reference of “Garden State” was meant to describe New Jersey’s geographical and agricultural relationship with New York and Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, New Jersey’s farmlands are the foundation for a strong agricultural industry and a way of life for generations of farm families; and
Whereas, Preserved farmland limits urban sprawl, protects our water and soils, provides us with an abundance of locally grown farm products, and maintains our connection to the land and the longstanding agricultural traditions that earned our reputation as the “Garden State”; and
Whereas, As of June 30, 2014, approximately 2,200 farms have been preserved under the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program, accounting for more than 209,000 acres of preserved farmland; and
Whereas, On December 6, 1954, a law was enacted requiring the phrase “Garden State” to be imprinted on all New Jersey license plates; and
Whereas, The slogan has also been used in naming areas and programs within New Jersey including the Garden State Parkway, Garden State Arts Center, Garden State Growth Zone, and Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.52:9A-12 “Garden State” designated State slogan.
1. “Garden State” is designated as the New Jersey State Slogan.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved August 7, 2017.