Ruiz Bill Establishing Food Desert Pilot Program Signed into Law

Trenton – Senate President Pro Tempore Senator M. Teresa Ruiz issued the following statement applauding the signing of her bill requiring the Department of Agriculture to establish a two-year food desert produce pilot program to provide food desert communities with access to fresh and affordable produce:

“It is crucial that we address the issue of food insecurity and food deserts in our state. People living in urban areas around the state often do not have access to affordable fresh produce, making it harder for them to make healthy choices. Close to 300,000 New Jerseyans have limited access to grocery stores. This not only impacts what they have on their table each night but also the long term health of our most vulnerable communities. Not surprisingly, we see higher rates of food insecurity in areas of the state deemed to be food deserts. Piloting a program with schools and organizations to have weekly farmers markets is the first step in determining a viable long-term solution for food deserts.”