In May 2003, the Governor announced a series of initiatives to combat childhood obesity and improve children’s academic performance by promoting better nutrition and physical activity in schools. The new "Healthy Choices, Healthy Kids" campaign is being spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Departments of Education and Health and Senior Services. The Department is amending the child nutrition program rule to require all schools to develop a school nutrition policy and replace unhealthy foods with more nutritious alternatives. Training will be provided focusing on marketing nutritious foods to children and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into the school meal program. In addition, the Department is working with Rutgers University’s Farm to School Initiative to increase the use of locally grown farm products in schools.

The National Research Council offers nine guidelines for reducing chronic disease in the United States. Near the top of the list, just below reducing fat and cholesterol, is eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Research conducted by the University of Southern California School of Medicine also found that eating more vegetables and fruits reduces many types of cancer, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and infectious illnesses.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the delegates to the 89th State Agriculture Convention, assembled in Long Branch, New Jersey on February 4, 2004, support the efforts of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to ensure that healthy food choices and fresh fruits and vegetables are available to all school children throughout New Jersey.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department be a leader in the promotion of healthy foods and sound dietary choices to improve the well being of New Jersey's citizens by promoting Healthy Choices, Healthy Kids.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department encourage all state institutions and schools to purchase locally grown produce when available throughout the year and assist with the expansion of the Farm to School Initiative which encompasses the following areas:

• The Department will work with the Farm to School Project currently administered by the New Jersey Urban Ecology Program to work through the challenges of increasing the use of locally grown products by school food service.
  
• The Department will develop and support and initiatives to overcome the issue of seasonality and distribution of Jersey Fresh products. Value added products would be developed/expanded to increase extended availability of these products.
  
• The Department will continue to work with the Department of Defense’s Fresh Produce Program (“DOD Fresh”) to expand the inclusion of Jersey Fresh products offered monthly through the Food Distribution Program.
  
• The Department will make contact with Jersey fruit and vegetable processing companies to produce pre-packaged, value-added, single-serving fruit and vegetable products for use in school food service menus.