Honors 40th anniversary of Jersey Fresh program.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach and 3 co-sponsors

Acknowledges 40 years of Jersey Fresh, recognizing its impact on NJ agriculture, local farming, consumer awareness, and the state's economy without new laws or funding.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee

Summary of SCR 20 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and Intent

A concurrent resolution honoring the 40th anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program.

Emphasizes the program’s role in promoting New Jersey agriculture, supporting family-owned farms, and increasing consumer awareness and access to locally grown produce.

Recognizes Jersey Fresh as a national model for state-sponsored agricultural branding programs and highlights its broader impact on the state’s economy and tax base.

Key Provisions and Changes

Declares that the Legislature honors the 40-year milestone of the Jersey Fresh program.

Requires that copies of the resolution, once filed with the Secretary of State, be transmitted to:

Secretary of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture
President of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture

The resolution itself does not enact new regulatory requirements or funding; it serves as formal recognition and goodwill endorsement by the Legislature.

Who or What Is Affected

The primary beneficiaries and subjects are:

New Jersey’s Jersey Fresh program and its stakeholders (state departments, farmers, marketers, and consumers).
Family-owned farming operations across all 21 counties.
Consumers who buy New Jersey-produced fruits and vegetables bearing the Jersey Fresh label.

The resolution also notes related programs inspired by Jersey Fresh (e.g., Made with Jersey Fresh, Jersey Grown, Jersey Raised, Jersey Seafood) and their broader marketing ecosystem.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

As a concurrent resolution, it requires approval by both houses (Senate and General Assembly) to enact, and it does not create enforceable law or funding.

Upon passage, the resolution is transmitted to the Secretary of State and then forwarded to the NJ Department of Agriculture and the NJ State Board of Agriculture leadership.

Contextual Notes

Jersey Fresh was established in 1984 as the first state-sponsored agricultural marketing and quality grading program in the U.S.

The program uses a distinct label to identify New Jersey-grown produce and sets a quality standard (U.S. No. 1 Fresh for Processing or better) to assure freshness and high quality.

The bill highlights the program’s expansion to over 2,000 on-farm and other market venues and its role in shaping related local/agri-food branding initiatives.

Overall, SCR 20 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing four decades of the Jersey Fresh program and acknowledging its contributions to New Jersey’s agriculture, economy, and consumer awareness.