New Jersey § 4:10-25

§ 4:10-25.

a. In order to promote and facilitate improved access to fresh produce by low-income

residents of urban food deserts, the Department of Agriculture shall develop and assist

in the implementation of a mobile farmers' market pilot program, to be known as the

“New Jersey Fresh Mobiles Initiative.” The pilot program shall operate in one or more municipalities, selected by the Secretary

of Agriculture, in which residents have limited access to nutritious foods through

supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers' markets, which agree to participate in

the program. The department shall identify, on its Internet website, the municipalities selected

for participation, and the vendor supply areas at which, and the times during which,

fresh mobile vendors will be accessible for community residents. The pilot program shall operate for a period of at least one year. No later than one year after the pilot program is established and becomes effective,

the department shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c. 164 ( C.52:14-19.1 ), to the Legislature, a written report containing information on the implementation

of the pilot program, including a recommendation on the feasibility and desirability

of implementing the initiative on a Statewide basis. b. As a part of the Fresh Mobiles Initiative Pilot Program, the department shall be

authorized to: (1) establish qualifications for fresh mobile vendors and assist the participating

municipalities in identifying and recruiting appropriate qualified persons to act

as fresh mobile vendors in the pilot program to be operated in the participating municipality,

provided that the vendors agree to accept any low-income food vouchers as payment

at the mobile venues established under the pilot program as a condition of participation

in the program; (2) assist the participating municipalities in designating one or more vendor supply

areas to be used for vendor sales, which designations shall ensure a high level of

accessibility to vendors by community residents; (3) coordinate and encourage partnerships between the participating municipalities

and such fresh mobile vendors as deemed necessary to better enable and ensure the

prompt or efficient delivery of fresh produce to urban food desert communities and

the provision of a year-round supply of fresh produce through the pilot program; (4) take appropriate actions to encourage consumer participation in the initiative

and increase consumer familiarity with regard to the various types of produce offered

by fresh mobile vendors; (5) take appropriate actions to encourage, at the discretion of the individual fresh

mobile vendor, the acceptance of any method of payment, including, but not limited

to, cash, credit, or check; (6) develop educational and informational materials for distribution to consumers,

which materials may incorporate information pertaining to the nutritional value of

fruits and vegetables, the importance of incorporating fresh produce into the diet,

or any other topic that is relevant to the work of the initiative; and (7) take such other actions, including but not limited to adopting rules and regulations

pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 ( C.52:14B-1 et seq. ), that the secretary deems necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of

this act.