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A 4754

Requires Departments of Agriculture and Education to cooperatively implement new "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative to promote and facilitate increased procurement and use of local and regional foods for school meals program purposes.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Shama Haider and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a joint KYF-KYF program to boost school meals by prioritizing locally produced New Jersey foods and linking farmers with school procurement.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4754

Summary of Bill A-4754 (New Jersey, 222nd Session)

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: New Jersey
  • Bill: A-4754
  • Purpose: Requires the Departments of Agriculture and Education to jointly establish and implement a “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” (KYF-KYF) initiative to promote and facilitate increased procurement and use of locally and regionally produced foods for New Jersey school meals programs.
  • Effective date: Immediate
  • Timeline for initiative: Not more than 180 days after the act’s effective date.

Main Purpose and Intent

The bill aims to:
- Strengthen connections between New Jersey farmers and the state’s public school meal programs.
- Increase student exposure to locally produced foods.
- Support local agricultural producers by expanding demand within school meal procurement.
- Promote awareness of local food sources among students, families, and school communities.

Key Provisions

Section 2 – Creation and Scope of the KYF-KYF Initiative

  • The Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Department of Education (DOE), in cooperation, must establish and implement the KYF-KYF initiative within 180 days of the act’s effective date.
  • Goals of the initiative:
    1. Raise statewide awareness of locally and regionally produced foods available for school meals, with emphasis on New Jersey producers.
    2. Create and maintain a centralized online resource hub that provides:
      • Types of locally produced foods and the producers available for school procurement.
      • Names and locations of active New Jersey farmers, ranchers, and other producers.
      • A listing of school food authorities, food service management companies, and third-party vendors procuring from identified local producers, including which schools they serve and what foods are procured.
    3. Monthly recognition of at least one local producer contributing significantly to the state’s school meals program, prioritizing New Jersey-based producers when selecting honorees.
    4. Review and modification of existing State school meals regulations to authorize and facilitate use of funds and resources to promote and develop longer-term procurement relationships with local producers.
    5. Additional actions to promote and facilitate increased procurement and distribution of locally produced foods to students.

Section 3 – Regulatory Framework

  • The Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Education must jointly adopt rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the act.
  • Minimum regulatory requirements will include defining what constitutes “local” or “regional” food and ensuring alignment with federal farm-to-school definitions and boundaries where applicable.

Section 4 – Effective Date

  • The act takes effect immediately.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: School food authorities, school districts, and participating schools that operate the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, or both.
  • Secondary: Food service management companies and third-party vendors that supply meals to schools.
  • Beneficiaries: Students receiving school meals, and New Jersey farmers and local food producers who would gain increased access to school procurement opportunities.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Action deadline: KYF-KYF initiative to be established and implemented within 180 days of the act’s effective date.
  • Governance: Joint action by DOA and DOE, with regulatory rules to be issued under the Administrative Procedure Act.
  • Monitoring and reporting: The bill requires ongoing promotion, data-sharing through the online hub, and monthly recognitions, suggesting a framework for ongoing oversight and public accountability.

Potential Impacts

  • Positive: Expanded procurement of locally produced foods, enhanced farmer-school connections, and increased student awareness of local agriculture.
  • Financial/operational: Possible initial costs for creating and maintaining the online resource hub and aligning procurement practices with KYF-KYF goals; potential long-term savings or value from local sourcing, including freshness and community economic benefits.
  • Educational: Alignment with farm-to-school initiatives and potential curricular or outreach opportunities to teach students about local food systems.

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

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