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Charles Miles Kuperus
John Fitch Plaza
PO 330
Trenton, NJ 08625-0330
Telephone: (609) 292-3976
Fax: (609) 292-3978
Internet Address: www.state.nj.us/agriculture/
MISSION STATEMENT
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is dedicated to develop, promote, conserve, and support the agricultural and agribusiness industry of the state and those natural and renewable resources that are associated with agriculture and other open lands for the benefit of all its citizens.
Programs of interest to urban community organizations are presented below . Additional information is available at UCC Guide to NJ Department of Agriculture Programs or at the New Jersey State web address:
http://www.state.nj.us./agriculture/
HIGHLIGHT OF PROGRAMS
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
Administers the Child Nutrition Programs such as the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, Child and Adult Food Program, Family Day Care Program and Summer food Service Program according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations and New Jersey state Statutes in an effort to meet the nutritional needs of the children of New Jersey. Provide program benefits to eligible public and private schools residential and non-residential child care institutions and other community service organizations.
TYPES OF PROGRAMS: Feeding program, administrative, technical support to provide information on serving nutritious meals to recipients, and supportive to provide the safeguard to the health and well-being of the nation’s children and adult recipients.
OTHER INFORMATION: Funded by federal and state appropriations. Public and non-public sponsors must be approved by the Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs.
WHO MAY APPLY: Public and non-public schools, day care centers, head start centers, family day care homes, summer feeding programs, non-profit summer camps, and charitable institutions.
CONTACT: Manage, Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs, Division of Markets, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, PO Box 334, Trenton, NJ 08625. 609-984-0692.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Requisitions, receives, stores, issues and accounts for US Department of Agriculture (USDA) price support and surplus removal food commodities for child nutrition, and charitable institution programs. Supports civil disaster areas when required. Conducts periodic reviews of eligible recipient agencies and commercial food processors utilizing USDA donated commodities.
TYPE OF PROGRAM: Food support, administrative, technical (to include the further processing of food commodities), and disaster.
OTHER INFORMATION: Funded by 5 percent market value cost assessed to each recipient agency. Public and non-public schools must be approved by the New Jersey Department of Education.
WHO MAY APPLY: Public and non-public schools, day care centers, head start centers, summer feeding programs, nonprofit summer camps, charitable institutions (including hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, jails, etc.) And non-profit emergency feeding organizations.
GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION
Prevent tree mortality in residential, forested municipalities, and recreational areas where trees are greatly valued.
TYPE OF PROGRAM: Surveys to define problem areas, recommendations, partial financial assistance for treatment, and technical assistance in developing control programs.
OTHER INFORMATION: Voluntary cooperative program, which is part of the Department’s integrated biological and chemical control program to reduce defoliating populations of gypsy moth. Upon certification of properly conducted program, some aerial spray application and pesticide costs may be reimbursed through USDA Forest Service funds, if available.
WHO MAY APPLY: Any unit of local government. Request for spraying and compliance with the conditions for participation in the aerial spray program.
CONTACT: Chief, Bureau of Plant Pest & Disease Control, Division of Plant Industry, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, PO Box 330, Trenton, New Jersey 08625. Phone: 609-292-5440.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Safeguards natural resources and open lands and protects agricultural crops from injurious pests and diseases. Provides an alternative to chemical control of pests. Reduces pesticide application costs and the amount released into the environment.
TYPE OF PROGRAM: Surveys to determine damage areas and release of natural enemies, raised into laboratories and approved by USDA for safety, to affected areas.
WHO MAY APPLY: Any unit of local government.
CONTACT: Chief, Bureau of Biological Control, Division of Plant Industry, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, PO Box 330, Trenton, New Jersey 08625. Phone: 609-530-4192.
NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Controls and prevents soil erosion and sedimentation. Conserves and develops soil resources. Conserves and develops water resources. Controls water pollutants generated from land disturbance activities. Provides soil resource capability data essential for land use planning.
TYPE OF PROGRAM: Natural resource information is available through the 16 soil conservation districts and State Soil Conservation Committee. Technical assistance is provided to land users by technical experts specializing in natural resource management. These services include: development, review and certification of soil erosion and sediment control plans for farmland and developing areas; certification of Requests for Storm water Discharge Authorization; review of site plans for soil suitability; watershed management, flood control, soils investigation and land treatment measures; interpretation of soil survey reports; and technical implementation of cost sharing programs for agricultural conservation practices.
OTHER INFORMATION: see the Directory of Soil Conservation Districts
WHO MAY APPLY: Individuals, groups, or agencies.
CONTACT: Secretary, State Soil Conservation Committee, NJ Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 330, Trenton, New Jersey 08625. Phone: 609-292-5540.
HACCP TRAINING
The Program provides training opportunities for the industry in the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system of seafood inspection. The Food and Drug Administration has made this system mandatory for all seafood processors. Principles of HACCP can be applied to all food industries, as well as all segments of the fish and seafood industry from harvester to retailer or restaurateur.
TYPE OF PROGRAM: Technical assistance and information.
WHO MAY APPLY: Public and private agencies, organizations, as well as individuals.
CONTACT: Coordinator, Jersey Shore Seafood, Division of Rural Resources, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, P. O. Box 330, Trenton, New Jersey 08625. Phone: 609-984-6757 / Fax: 609-633-7229.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
The Rural Development Services programs are designed to improve the agricultural business climate by providing technical assistance on a wide variety of agricultural, agribusiness, and rural economic development projects. The program resolves growth related and regulatory conflicts impacting the agricultural sector as well as initiating agricultural economic development projects for new and existing enterprises.
Expansion of the NJDA’s agricultural advocacy program in order to reduce the burdens placed on well-managed farm operations by irrelevant regulations is necessary in order to cultivate agricultural economic development projects and sustain existing farm enterprises. This ambition can be achieved by increasing the understanding and sensitivity of the authorities mandated to develop and enforce regulations which impact agriculture and improving the coordination among enforcement authorities.
TYPE OF PROGRAM: Technical assistance.
WHO MAY APPLY: Any public or private person, corporation or agency.
CONTACT: Coordinator, Rural Development Services, Division of Rural Resources, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, PO Box 330, Trenton, New Jersey 08625. Phone: 609-292-5511.
FISH AND SEAFOOD DEVELOPMENT
New Jersey is home to some of the largest commercial and recreational fishing ports on the East Coast including Cape May, Atlantic City, Point Pleasant, Belfry, Barnegat Light and Port Norris. Few states match the rich variety of fish populating New Jersey’s bays, inlets and ocean front.
In 1995, New Jersey commercial fishermen harvested over 177 million pounds of fish and seafood valued at over $96 million. The state’s growing agriculture industry contributed an additional farm gate value of $4 million. Using a standard multiplier, it is estimated that the commercial fish and seafood industries contributed approximately $624 million to the economy of the Garden State in 1995. An additional $762.2 million was generated b the recreational industry.
Recognizing the growing needs of the industry, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Fish & Seafood Program has a number of missions:
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The Program has concentrated on promoting the industry statewide and on selling the state as a site for processing operations. The development of value-added products and vertically integrated projects will allow New Jersey to compete more effectively in the rapidly expanding global market.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
This aspect of the program fosters the development appropriate infrastructure, facilities and technology to ensure effective use of the state’s marine and aquatic resources. Technical assistance is aimed at accelerating the commercialization of new and emerging fish processing and waste disposal technologies. Communications and training efforts include specific research projects aimed at developing more cost-efficient and effective ways to handle waste disposal problems. Information dissemination efforts are focused on new technology that can contribute to both productivity and profitability.
EXPORT ASSISTANCE
This segment of the program assists in the development of overseas markets for New Jersey fishery products. This is especially critical given the resource base available to local fishermen which consists primarily of species that are acceptable to foreign markets but for which there is little domestic demand. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture realized the opportunity for non-traditional species in the European and Asian markets. This meant encouraging the industry to refocus commercial harvest effort onto these species and assisting in establishing export market opportunities.
DOMESTIC MARKETING AND PROMOTION INITIATIVES
All of the domestic marketing and promotion projects undertaken by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture are designed to upgrade the perception of locally harvested fish and seafood products among various user groups including retailers, food service operators and consumers. These efforts are developed around a variety of brochures, point of purchase materials, media outreach efforts and promotions. Work with the media includes the promotion of many of the less familiar, lower priced species, as well as the health aspects of seafood and general consumer information. Programs are developed for both retailers and food service operators to provide additional training in merchandising the wide range of fish and seafood products available.
AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT
The Program provides general support services for the aquaculture industry including technology transfer, marketing assistance and assistance with permitting procedures. The Department was instrumental in the development of the State Aquaculture Plan, which was accepted by the Governor on January 26, 1995. The Plan lays the groundwork for the orderly development of the aquaculture industry in New Jersey. The New Jersey Aquaculture Act, which is based on the recommendations developed in the Plan, is currently moving through the legislative process.
CONSUMER EDUCATION
To build on the consumer interest in fish and seafood generated by health concerns and the desire for a more interesting diet, a number of consumer materials have been developed. Points of purchase recipe cards are available at 386 retail stores throughout New Jersey. The Share Our Maritime Heritage Enjoy New Jersey Seafood Today Cookbooklet contains information about our fisheries, provides information on purchasing and preparing fish and seafood as well as appetizing recipes.
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN NEW JERSEY
The Conservation District Offices provide county residents with a wealth of information on gardening, farming, soil conservation, and related subjects.
Bergen
327 Ridgewood Ave.
Paramus, NJ 07652
Phone: 201-261-4407 or
538-1552
Fax: 201-261-7573
Burlington
Tiffany Square, Suite 100
2615 Route 38-RD 2
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609-267-7410 or 267-0811
Fax: 609-267-3347
Camden
423 Commerce Lane
W. Berlin, NJ 08091
Phone: 609-767-6299 or
267-0811
Fax: 609-767-1676
Cape-Atlantic
Atlantic County Office Bldg.
6260 Harding Highway
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: 609-625-9400 or 625-3144
Fax: 609-625-7360
Cumberland
P.O. Box 144
Rt. 77
Deerfield, NJ 08313
Phone: 609-451-2422 or 451-2144
Fax: 609-451-1358
Freehold (Monmouth and Middlesex)
211 Freehold Road
Manalapan, NJ 07726
Phone: 732-446-2300 or 462-1079
Fax: 732-446-9140
Gloucester
Kandle Center
72 East Holly Ave.
Pitman, NJ 08071
Phone: 609-589-5250 or 582-9027
Fax: 609-256-0488
Hudson, Essex & Passaic
15 Bloomfield Avenue
North Caldwell, NJ 07006
Phone: 973-364-0786 or 538-1552
Fax: 973-364-0784
Hunterdon
Community Services Annex
8 Gaunt Place
Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: 908-788-1397 or 782-3915
Fax: 908-788-0795
Mercer
508 Hughes Drive
Hamilton Square, NJ 08690
Phone: 609-586-9603 or 584-8337
Fax: 609-586-1117
Morris
Court House
P. O. Box 900
Morristown, NJ 07960
(Located at W. Hanover Ave, Morris Twp.)
Phone: 973-285-2953 or 538-1552
Fax: 973-285-8345
Ocean
714 Lacey Road
Forked River, NJ 08731
Phone: 609-971-0811 or 267-0811
Fax: 609-971-3391
Salem
P. O. Box 168
Deerfield, NJ 08313
Phone: 609-769-1124 or 582-9027
Fax: 609-451-1358
Somerset-Union
308 Milltown Rd.
Somerset County 4-H Center
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Phone: 908-526-2701 or 725-3848
Fax: 908-526-7017
Sussex
3 High Street (Old Court House)
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: 973-579-5074 or 973-852-5450
Fax: 973-579-7846
Warren
224 Stiger Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Phone: 908-852-2579 or 852-5450
Fax: 908-852-2284
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