NJ Food Democracy Collaborative

09/04/2026

Deadline October 26, 2026. The Northeast SARE Farming Community Grant supports multistate and regional projects that advance regenerative and sustainable agriculture at the intersection of nutrition and health, people, animals, and pathogens. The program prioritizes interdisciplinary projects that generate impactful, adaptable knowledge; strengthen partnerships; improve health and well-being; and support productive, profitable, safe, and sustainable Northeast food and farming systems. The program supports projects that strengthen farming communities by addressing quality of life and social and economic challenges through farmer-driven collaboration and innovation. A total of $1.5 million is available; typical requests fall between $250,000 and $500,000. New Jersey Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee New Jersey Farm BureauNew Jersey Department of Agriculture

09/04/2026

A nutritious meal before classes leads to better learning for kids in need, and offering it to all eliminates stigma

08/28/2026

Your vote helps shape the future of New Jersey's farms and natural resources. 🌱🗳️

Congress helps decide how federal funding supports conservation, protects clean water, improves soil health, and helps farmers prepare for droughts, floods, and other environmental challenges.

Those decisions affect the natural resources our food system depends on and the long-term resilience of New Jersey's farms and communities.

At the New Jersey Food Democracy Collaborative, we believe everyone deserves clear, nonpartisan information about how federal policy affects our food system.

Swipe through to learn why this election matters and make a plan to vote before Election Day.

🗳️ Your vote. Our food system.

08/26/2026

Decisions made by elected officials shape the policies and programs that affect how food is grown, purchased, and distributed across New Jersey, from supporting local farmers to strengthening food access in our communities.

That’s why we’re creating a nonpartisan candidate questionnaire and voter guide focused on food and agriculture. Our goal is to help New Jersey voters better understand where candidates stand on issues that shape our food system before heading to the polls.

Follow along for more food policy facts, election resources, and updates as we prepare to release the guide.

🗳️ Your vote. Our food system.

08/21/2026

Congress decides funding for SNAP, the nation's largest anti-hunger program. Why does that matter?

SNAP helps millions of Americans afford groceries each month, including hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents. Congress determines funding levels and makes key policy decisions that shape how the program operates and who it serves.

Those decisions don't just affect families experiencing food insecurity, they also support local grocery stores, farmers markets, and communities across the state.

The people elected to Congress this November will help make decisions that influence SNAP and many other food and agriculture programs for years to come.

That's why we're creating a nonpartisan candidate questionnaire and voter guide focused on food and agriculture. Our goal is to help New Jersey voters better understand where candidates stand on issues like SNAP that shape our food system before heading to the polls.

Follow along for more food policy facts, election resources, and updates as we prepare to release the guide.

🗳️Your vote. Our food system.

08/20/2026

There’s a lot happening across New Jersey’s food system this August, and plenty of ways to get involved. 🌱

This is just a snapshot. Subscribe to the NJFDC newsletter below to get the full monthly update, including what’s happening, why it matters, and ways you can take action. 📩

The August update includes:
🏛️ Where the 2026 Farm Bill stands — and why SNAP remains at the center of negotiations
🥕 The push to make Local Food for Schools permanent in New Jersey
🌱 Efforts to preserve urban farms across the state
📣 SNAP Week of Action and ways to make your voice heard
🤝 Opportunities to join NJFDC and strengthen our collective advocacy
📅 The upcoming NJ State of the Food System Summit
💡 New resources, leadership opportunities, farmers market guides + more

Key links:
📬 Sign up for the NJFDC newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/16b2e77c2748/njfdc-email-sign-up

📅 NJ State of the Food System Summit
www.njfooddemocracy.org/njfdc-events/5th-nj-state-of-the-food-system-summit

🌱 Urban Farm Preservation Action Resources
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66a40c9e49e6b01c3917f58c/t/6a7f337914d7f55cfab19140/1786721145394/PRESERVE+NJ%27S+URBAN+FArMS_Action+sheet.pdf

🍅 Local Foods For Schools Campaign Resources
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66a40c9e49e6b01c3917f58c/t/6a7f2fac18df211646f86439/1786720172086/KEEP+LOCAL+FOOD+IN+NEW+JERSEY+SCHOOLS_Action+sheet.pdf

🏅 Garden State Food Policy Champion Award Nomination Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvwyJ1hcjoE3LjiDNKuK2754N0dbM3O53Bc21laalry0oEQA/viewform

📔 Local Food Policy Resource Hub
https://localfoodpolicy.org/

08/11/2026

Congress decides more about our food system than many people realize.

The members of Congress we elect help decide the policies and funding that shape everything from nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and WIC to support for farmers, school meals, conservation efforts, and local food systems.

Those decisions can influence how well farmers are protected from financial risk, whether families can afford healthy food, and how food moves through our communities.

Understanding how the government shapes our food system is an important part of being an informed voter. That's why we're launching a nonpartisan voter education series to help New Jersey residents better understand the connection between elections and food policy.

In the coming weeks, we'll also share our nonpartisan candidate questionnaire and voter guide, making it easier to learn where candidates stand on key food and farming issues before heading to the polls.

We'll publish the guide online and distribute it at farmers markets across New Jersey.
Follow along, subscribe to our newsletter through the link in our bio, and stay tuned for more resources.

🗳Your vote. Our food system.

08/11/2026

08/11/2026

Come on out and join us at this great event!

Be sure to RSVP!

08/07/2026

Farm Bill 2026 update:
""We're not going to get a farm bill. That's the game here today," Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said earlier in the hearing. "All of us knew before we walked in this room. This is going to fall to a partisan vote over SNAP payments."

Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., said he negotiated with the White House to soften the nutrition provisions. They agreed to delay state cost-sharing requirements by one year and allow states to use either their fiscal 2026 or 2027 SNAP payment error rate, whichever is lower, to determine future cost-sharing obligations.

Boozman said those concessions represented the furthest the White House was willing to go. Democrats argued the changes remained insufficient, and they would not accept them, leaving every vote in the markup to fall along party lines in Republicans' favor."

Although lawmakers agreed on several farm policy priorities, the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance the farm bill, 10-11, sending the fight over a two-year SNAP cost-share delay into September while the manager's amendment and MCOOL passed.