New Jersey Fresh Produce Access to Expand Via EPA
New Jersey residents facing food insecurity may see more fresh, recovered produce at local distribution sites.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Organic Food
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The New Jersey Agricultural Society is partnering with the EPA Feed It Onward program to expand efforts in reducing food waste and improving access to fresh produce. This collaboration leverages 30 years of experience from the state's Farmers Against Hunger initiative to help reach food-insecure communities across the country.
Why it matters
By scaling local produce recovery efforts, this partnership aims to bridge the gap between farm-level surplus and the nutritional needs of food-insecure populations. The initiative addresses systemic food waste by formalizing the distribution of fresh crops through national channels.
The partnership is based on 30 years of operational experience from the Farmers Against Hunger program. It remains unclear how many additional tons of produce the national program expects to recover annually.
The players
New Jersey Agricultural Society
An organization that manages the Farmers Against Hunger program to bridge the gap between farmers and food-insecure families.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
A federal agency that launched the Feed It Onward program to address food waste and sustainability.
Lee Zeldin
The Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under whom the Feed It Onward program was launched.
The details
The program relies on gleaning, a process where volunteers harvest surplus crops directly from farms that would otherwise go to waste. Once collected, the produce is moved to refrigerated storage facilities to maintain freshness before it is inventoried and distributed to local churches and food banks. This logistical framework ensures that fresh, nutrient-dense foods reach families in need instead of being discarded.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: The EPA announced the New Jersey Agricultural Society partnership.
Health Landscape
This partnership integrates local gleaning models into the broader framework of the EPA Feed It Onward program. It reflects a growing national focus on reducing agricultural waste to improve nutritional access for underserved communities.
This initiative aims to increase the availability of fresh, locally grown produce at food banks and charitable distribution centers. If you rely on these resources, inquire with local pantries about any upcoming changes to the variety or volume of fresh items they provide.
The takeaway
Reducing food waste provides a practical path to improving nutritional equity by getting fresh produce to those who need it most. You can support these efforts by donating to local programs like Farmers Against Hunger or volunteering to help with crop gleaning in your community.
Further reading
For more information on how local crops are managed, visit the Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRNJ Radio.
Live Poll
Do you believe local food recovery partnerships are an effective way to address community food waste?
