February 24, 2021

NJ WIC Senior/Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

The NJ Dept of Health’s Women, Infants and Children program administers the Senior/Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program that provides vouchers to purchase fresh produce only through authorized on-farm and community farmers’ markets. They now serve over 80,000 NJ residents and are recruiting new Farmers and Market Managers to help them reach even more eligible customers.

If you are interested in finding out more about the program and becoming a participating market able to accept and redeem S/FMNP vouchers for yourself or on behalf of your smaller farm market vendors, please contact Jose Quann asap at the NJ Dept of Health. He can be reached at <jose.quann@doh.nj.gov>.

Please note – In order to become an Authorized Farmer or Market Manager, you will be required to attend a mandatory training program. There are only four scheduled virtual sessions between now and early March 15. If you miss the the mandatory training, there is an appeal and hearing process, but otherwise, you will not be able to participate this season.

Time is of the essence!

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,
May 30, 2020

On-Farm Direct Marketing Webinar Series Now Online

The four-part On-Farm Direct Marketing webinar series recordings are now available online and linked below.
Social Distancing and Safe Food Handling Guidance for Farm Markets, Wes Kline
Sales and Distribution Strategies, Bill Bamka and Steve Komar
U-Pick Guidance for Compliance with Executive Orders, Meredith Melendez
Farmer Panel Discussion, Featuring Tracy Duffield, Jessica Neiderer, and David Specca

For more production agriculture resources on COVID-19, including printable signage for customers and farmworkers visit the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety COVID-19 webpage.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , ,
May 27, 2020

Cloth Face Covering Requirements for Customers and Employees

Covid guidelines for small buisnessesAs farms start-up their pick-your-own seasons we are becoming more aware of negative customer feedback on social media sites.  Comments have mostly been specific to the requirement of customers wearing face coverings while outside at a farm retail business.  Your farm is deemed an “essential retail business” allowing you to be open, but requiring you to follow state guidelines.  Customers are required to wear cloth face coverings at all times while at any essential retail business, including farm markets, farm stands, and pick-your-own locations.  Those with health conditions where a face covering would cause a negative impact on their health and children under the age of two are exempted from this requirement.   This season will be unlike any other you have had at the farm, and your customers experience will be different than what they are used to.  This season your farm has the opportunity to provide a safe place to obtain local, healthy food, and hopefully they will make a few good memories while practicing social distancing and using face coverings appropriately.

We have gathered resources to help convey the Governors Executive Orders, and their impacts to your farm operation, below.  The second link is the newly released NJDH printable poster outlining the requirements of all businesses allowed to operate during this time, including the mandate all operating businesses require customers and employees to wear face coverings.

NJ Executive Order 122 – Full length (see page 6, letter K for specifics)
“Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while on the premises, except where doing so would inhibit that individuals health or where the individual is under two years of age.”

NJDH Guidance for Retail Businesses – Requirements for all Businesses Continuing to Operate (printable poster)
“Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings, and require workers to wear gloves.”

NJDH/NJDA/DOL Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Their Employers, and Housing Providers
“Workers must wear face coverings at all times, including during transportation, while working, and while in the presence of others.”

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,