A5049

An Act concerning the sale of “Jersey Fresh” products at certain locations and amending P.L.2008, c.40.

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

1. Section 1 of P.L.2008, c.40 (C.27:23-48) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall adopt, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to provide for and encourage the sale of agricultural products labeled "Jersey Fresh", other agricultural or horticultural products grown and raised in the State, and "Made With Jersey Fresh" products that are baked or made with "Jersey Fresh" products, at service areas along the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike. These rules and regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions allowing for:

(1) the selection of appropriate service areas;

(2) the designation of locations for such sales at selected service areas;

(3) procedures for growers and sellers of agricultural or horticultural products, and bakers or producers of "Made With Jersey Fresh" products, to use these designated sales locations; and

(4) compliance with the rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2008, c.40 (C.4:1-11.2).

b. To the extent necessary, appropriate, and practicable, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall initiate discussions with contracted vendors at service areas concerning the promotion and sale of agricultural products labeled "Jersey Fresh" and other agricultural or horticultural products, and "Made With Jersey Fresh" baked goods and other food products, at service areas and shall incorporate any necessary provisions in the contracts of the vendors to allow for the promotion and sale of these products at service areas along the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike.

c. Within 90 days of the end of each fiscal year, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall submit a report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature that contains the following information for the immediately preceding fiscal year:

(1) the service areas that have been selected for the sale of products labeled “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh”;

(2) the total number of growers and sellers of agricultural or horticultural products and bakers or producers of “Made With Jersey Fresh” products that used the designated locations at each selected service area;

(3) the total number of contracted vendors that sold products labeled “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh”;

(4) the amount in dollars of the total sales of “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh” products at each selected service area;

(5) a survey of the growers and sellers of agricultural or horticultural products and bakers or producers of “Made With Jersey Fresh” products that provides feedback on how the authority may improve the program established by this section;

(6) a plan for the expansion of the program established by this section to additional service areas, if feasible, and which service areas are appropriate candidates to host growers and sellers of agricultural or horticultural products and bakers or producers of “Made With Jersey Fresh” products; and

(7) any other information that the authority deems appropriate to include in the report.

(cf: P.L.2010, c.111, s.3)

2. Section 2 of P.L.2008, c.40 (C.27:25A-43) is amended to read as follows:

2. a. The South Jersey Transportation Authority shall adopt, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to provide for and encourage the sale of agricultural products labeled "Jersey Fresh", other agricultural or horticultural products grown and raised in the State, and "Made With Jersey Fresh" products that are baked or made with "Jersey Fresh" products, at service areas along the Atlantic City Expressway. These rules and regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions allowing for:

(1) the selection of appropriate service areas;

(2) the designation of locations for such sales at selected service areas;

(3) procedures for growers and sellers of agricultural or horticultural products, and bakers and producers of "Made With Jersey Fresh" products, to use these designated sales locations; and

(4) compliance with the rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2008, c.40 (C.4:1-11.2).

b. To the extent necessary, appropriate, and practicable, the South Jersey [Turnpike] Transportation Authority shall initiate discussions with contracted vendors at service areas concerning the promotion and sale of agricultural products labeled "Jersey Fresh" and other agricultural or horticultural products, and "Made With Jersey Fresh" baked goods and other food products, at service areas and shall incorporate any necessary provisions in the contracts of the vendors to allow for the promotion and sale of these products at service areas along the Atlantic City Expressway.

c. Within 90 days of the end of each fiscal year, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall submit a report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature that contains the following information for the immediately preceding fiscal year:

(1) the service areas that have been selected for the sale of products labeled “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh”;

(3) the total number of contracted vendors that sold products labeled “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh”;

(4) the amount in dollars of the total sales of “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh” products at each selected service area;

(7) any other information that the authority deems appropriate to include in the report.

(cf: P.L.2010, c.111, s.4)

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the “Jersey Fresh” program at NJTA and SJTA service areas.

The report is required to include:

(1) the service areas that have been selected for the sale of products labeled “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh”;

(3) the total number of contracted vendors that sold products labeled “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh”;

(4) the amount in dollars of the total sales of “Jersey Fresh” and “Made With Jersey Fresh” products at each selected service area;

(6) a plan for the expansion of the program to additional service areas, if feasible, and which service areas are appropriate candidates to host growers and sellers of agricultural or horticultural products and bakers or producers of “Made With Jersey Fresh” products; and

(7) any other information that the NJTA or SJTA deems appropriate to include in the report.

The sponsor of this bill supports the “Jersey Fresh” program and the economic benefits that the program provides to the State. By requiring the NJTA and SJTA to provide information on the program, the sponsor hopes to improve the program for New Jersey’s growers and sellers and all New Jersey residents.