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Bill

S 1895

Directs Department of Agriculture to establish "Farm to Food Bank Pilot Program."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Latham Tiver

New Jersey bill creates Farm to Food Bank pilot program connecting farms with food banks to distribute surplus produce to food-insecure residents.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
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Bill Summary · S 1895

Legislative bill overview

S 1895 directs the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to create a pilot program connecting farms directly with food banks to distribute surplus agricultural products to food-insecure populations. The program would facilitate the transfer of unsold or unmarketable produce from farms to food banks, reducing waste while increasing food bank inventory.

Why is this important

Food insecurity affects millions of Americans, and food banks consistently face inventory shortages. This bill addresses two problems simultaneously: helping farms reduce waste (which has economic and environmental benefits) while expanding free food access for low-income residents. Pilot programs like this provide data on cost-effectiveness and scalability before broader implementation.

Potential points of contention

  • Program funding: The bill does not specify funding mechanisms, leaving unclear whether costs fall on the state budget, farms, or food banks
  • Liability concerns: Farms may worry about legal liability when donating produce, despite federal protections like the Good Samaritan Act already existing
  • Transportation logistics: Moving perishable goods from farms to food banks requires coordination and infrastructure that may prove costly or inefficient in practice
  • Definition of "surplus": Unclear standards for what qualifies as acceptable surplus produce could create disputes between farms and food banks

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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