Agriculture

Senator Menendez enjoys fresh New Jersey blueberries (photo courtesy of The Hammonton News newspaper) - August 15, 2007

Despite having the highest population density of any state and one of the highest costs of living, New Jersey is still one of the top ranked states in the production of a variety of fruits and vegetables, including:

Blueberries: 2nd highest national output (the number one in fresh market blueberries)

Cranberries: 3rd highest national output

Peppers: 3rd highest national output

Peaches: 4th highest national output

Spinach: 4th highest national output

New Jersey is also a major producer of tomatoes, eggplant, apples, strawberries, cucumbers, sweet corn, asparagus, head lettuce, and more.

Learn more about my work to ensure the Garden State's farms remain strong:

110th Congress Legislation

In the past, farm bills have supported commodity crops in the Midwest, but have done little to help farmers of fruits and vegetables. I am committed to ensuring that New Jersey's fruit and vegetable farmers are not ignored in the 2007 Farm Bill. I also believe that the Farm Bill must do more to conserve farm land and provide food for needy families.

Introduced S.919, the Healthy Farms, Foods, and Fuels Act of 2007. This bill expands the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to schools in all states, giving more children access to healthy snacks. And it expands the Farmers Market Promotion Program and provides additional funding for programs that allow seniors and low-income families to obtain food at farmers markets. The bill also would provide for increased conservation of farmland.

Cosponsored S.1160, the Specialty Crop Competition Act of 2007. This bill provides more funding for specialty crops and helps farmers develop more economically-viable and environmentally-friendly crops, find new markets, and provide school nutrition programs with added fruits and vegetables.

Cosponsored S.2228, the Farm, Ranch, Equity, Stewardship, and Health Act of 2007 (FRESH). This bill will: 1) expand support for specialty crop farmers, who produce roughly half of the sales of American agriculture products, 2) improve the diet and health of the American people, 3) invest in popular conservation programs and, 4) help more hungry Americans.

Cosponsored S.1694, the Pollinator Protection Act. This bill provides funding for research on honey bees, parasites, pathogens, toxins, and other environmental factors affecting bees and pollination of cultivated and wild plants, in order to address Colony Collapse Disorder in North America. In the last year more than 25 percent of the United States bee population has mysteriously died.

110th Letters

Signed letter urging the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to allocate $300 million per year in the 2007 Farm Bill to fund the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program.

Signed letter to the Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns regarding Bee Colony Collapse Disorder.

Signed letter to the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee to support increased funding for the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program.

Signed letter to Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Chambliss of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to strengthen the Food Stamp program and other anti-hunger/nutrition programs for the almost 35 million hungry Americans in the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill.