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Federal report declares New Jersey has 134 areas without a decent supermarket

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

According to a federal report, 4 percent of New Jerseyans live in “food deserts” where supermarkets and good nutritional options are barren and to Assemblyman John Amodeo (R-Atlantic) that is a reason why legislators should encourage farmers to bring fresh produce to cities.

More than 340,000 New Jerseyans live in 134 so-called food deserts, the data shows. The report states that 83 of the areas deprived of healthy nutrition are in South Jersey, which lacks large supermarkets and public transportation needed to get to food stores.

Atlantic City, where Gov. Chris Christie and the Legislature are trying to bolster the casino industry, is a city of 40,000 people without a supermarket.

“For many of us, a trip to the farmer’s market or grocery store is just another summer pleasure, but for people who can’t get to this bounty, having farmers bring in their fresh Jersey tomatoes, peaches or corn may mean a respite from another meal out of a greasy bag,” Amodeo said on Monday. “People in areas like Atlantic City are starving for better food options that are just out of their reach.”

This year, Amodeo voted for Assembly bill A-3688, which would require the state Department of Agriculture to establish a network of fresh mobile vendors for “food desert” communities. The bill was approved by the lower house, but remains in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“With a little coordination, we can provide an oasis for people throughout the state stuck in food deserts,” Amodeo said. “It’s been five years since Atlantic City has had a major supermarket and this program will connect farmers with customers who don’t have access to fresh produce.”