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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey Department of Agriculture creates local farm-to-college food purchasing program
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources CommitteeSponsor: Dawn Fantasia
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What This Bill Would Do
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is directed to establish a program connecting state public colleges and universities with local farmers to increase the use of New Jersey-grown produce in campus meals. The measure requires new bidding rules for local food procurement, a dedicated website with purchasing directories, and public contract examples.
Changes procurement rules and purchasing options for public higher education institutions and creates marketing and direct-contact directories for New Jersey agricultural producers.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
public institutions of higher education
State universities and colleges are subject to new bidding matrices, procurement guidelines, and facility encouragement rules regarding local food purchases.
New Jersey farmers
Agricultural producers gain access to public directories, purchasing networks, and increased institutional procurement opportunities.
food distributors
Distributors are included in purchasing networks and public directory listings designed to connect them with institutional buyers.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which schools are included in the program?
How will farmers connect with purchasing agents at colleges?
How will the program be funded?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Institutional Procurement Preference
The bill shifts standard higher education purchasing procedures by mandating a bidding matrix that allows price preferences for local New Jersey agricultural products.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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