It is imperative that the Berry Lane Farmers Market, a community-led initiative that aims to increase access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food for all community members, especially those who may face barriers to accessing such food, be brought to Berry Lane Park and the surrounding communities in Jersey City, NJ.

With the ending of emergency SNAP benefits in February, the rising cost of living, and many families and seniors struggling daily to survive, being forced to make financial trade offs like paying the rent over buying groceries, purchasing farm fresh or healthy food items is a distant luxury. Jersey City’s administration is challenging a movement to reduce the food and health inequity gap ignoring the financial, nutritional, emotional, and overall health of residents within the surrounding Berry Lane Park neighborhoods. 

Further, the Berry Lane Farmers’ Market will disrupt decades of environmental and structural racism that have created a lack of access to affordable, nutritious food options for children, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities most being families of color and provide a space for entrepreneurial advancement. The benefits of the Farmers’ Market include: 

• The mission is rooted in a social and racial equity framework that will create job opportunities for Jersey City youth and minorities with a particular interest in agriculture, urban farming, nutrition, and business as well as provide a space for entrepreneurial advancement for local and non-local minority growers, farmers, and food entrepreneurs.
• A location for nutrition education where consumers can ask questions about how food is grown, produced, and ways to prepare meals through cooking demonstrations and resource sharing that increases nutrition and health literacy.
• The Farmers' Market will accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, allowing low-income families to stretch their grocery budgets and access fresh, healthy food.
• The market will provide a location for community outreach for local agencies to reach families, adults, and children with health information and services to support individual and family health.

Request that Jersey City's Ward A Councilwoman, Denise Ridley and the Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Christine Goodman, support the Berry Lane Farmers Market. By signing this petition, you are adding your support to the growing coalition of neighbors, community members, and Berry Lane Farmers' Market stakeholders who want to see greater support in the local economy, efforts to reverse the lack of healthy food options within the area, and greater efforts to advance food security throughout the area.