Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ADAM J. TALIAFERRO
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Designates first full week of June of each year as “Ugly Produce Week.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the first full week of June of each year as “Ugly Produce Week.”
Whereas, Food waste is a major issue in the United States and globally; and
Whereas, According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), unwanted and discarded food squanders resources, including water, land, energy, labor, and capital, and, when food waste is dumped in a landfill, it rots and creates methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas; and
Whereas, The FAO has estimated that one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption – about 1.3 billion tons – is lost or wasted every year, and the food loss and waste in industrialized countries equates to a value of approximately $680 billion; and
Whereas, The FAO has also stated that if one fourth of the food lost or wasted globally could be saved, it would be enough to feed 870 million hungry people; and
Whereas, Agricultural produce that falls below cosmetic standards is often rejected by supermarkets and restaurants, and consumers historically have avoided it despite the fact that the food is perfectly fit for human consumption; and
Whereas, The discarding of such cosmetically imperfect, or “ugly,” produce is a type of food waste; and
Whereas, In order to help reduce that type of food waste, the “ugly food movement” has taken off around the world, particularly in Europe and Australia, where supermarkets successfully sell cosmetically imperfect foods which otherwise may have been thrown out; and
Whereas, In the United States, increased public awareness of massive food waste has led several food retailers to offer cosmetically imperfect fruits and vegetables to customers at reduced prices, which provides savings for customers and a larger profit margin for farmers, while reducing food waste; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, farmers are already participating in this movement by donating cosmetically imperfect or gleaned produce to food banks and food pantries; and
Whereas, Much more can and must be done in the food supply chain to reduce the incredible waste of this precious resource, and designating a week in June of each year to publicize this important issue is one small step toward achieving that goal; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The first full week of June of each year is designated as “Ugly Produce Week” to promote greater public acceptance, use, and consumption of cosmetically imperfect fruits, vegetables, and grains.
2. The Governor may annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "Ugly Produce Week” with appropriate activities and programs.
3. The Department of Agriculture shall take appropriate measures each year to publicize “Ugly Produce Week.”
4. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would designate the first full week of June of each year as “Ugly Produce Week” to promote greater public acceptance, use, and consumption of cosmetically imperfect fruits, vegetables, and grains. “Ugly produce” is any fruit, vegetable, or grain that is fresh, undamaged, and suitable for human consumption, but does not meet industry-accepted standards for cosmetic appearance. The joint resolution also would authorize the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "Ugly Produce Week” with appropriate activities and programs. Lastly, it would require the Department of Agriculture to take appropriate measures each year to publicize “Ugly Produce Week.”
Food waste is a major issue in the United States and globally. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), unwanted and discarded food squanders resources, including water, land, energy, labor, and capital. In addition, when food waste is dumped in a landfill, it rots and creates methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. The FAO has estimated that one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption – about 1.3 billion tons – is lost or wasted every year, and the food loss and waste in industrialized countries equates to a value of approximately $680 billion. The FAO has also stated that if one fourth of the food lost or wasted globally could be saved, it would be enough to feed 870 million hungry people.
Agricultural produce that falls below cosmetic standards is often rejected by supermarkets and restaurants, and consumers historically have avoided it despite the fact that it is perfectly fit for human consumption. The discarding of such cosmetically imperfect, or “ugly,” produce is a type of food waste. In order to help reduce that type of food waste, the “ugly food movement” has taken off around the world, particularly in Europe and Australia, where supermarkets successfully sell cosmetically imperfect foods which otherwise may have been thrown out. In the United States, increased public awareness of massive food waste has led several food retailers to offer cosmetically imperfect fruits and vegetables to customers at reduced prices, which provides savings for customers and a larger profit margin for farmers, while reducing food waste. In New Jersey, farmers also regularly donate cosmetically imperfect or gleaned produce to food banks and food pantries. But much more must be done in the food supply chain to reduce the incredible waste of this precious resource. This joint resolution is one small step toward achieving that goal.