Burlington County will continue to partner with the New Jersey Agricultural Society to help fight food insecurity and hunger in the county and across New Jersey.

The Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a resolution authorizing a new 5-year agreement with the New Jersey Agricultural Society that allows the organization’s Farmers Against Hunger program to operate out of Rainbow Meadow Park in Delran.

Founded in 1996, Farmers Against Hunger is a program of the New Jersey Agricultural Society that collects surplus produce from farms and farmers markets for distribution to food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries.  During the last two years alone, the program collected more than 500,000 pounds of food that has helped feed thousands of people.

In addition to food gleaning, the program also helps educate residents about New Jersey-grown fruits, vegetables, nutrition, cooking and land stewardship.

“It’s unacceptable that there are residents living amongst us who go hungry or are forced to choose between adequate, nutritious meals and other basic needs like health care and housing,” said Burlington County Commissioner Felicia Hopson. “Our Board has made ending food insecurity in Burlington County a priority, so we are excited to continue our partnership with New Jersey Agricultural Society and its Farmers Against Hunger program. By assisting them, we are helping to reduce food waste and assist residents struggling to afford food.”

Farmers Against Hunger began using a portion of Rainbow Meadow Park as its headquarters in 2020.

The 120-acre park property was formerly a peach farm before it was purchased by Burlington County in 2001. It was developed into a County park in 2015 with the aid of New Jersey Green Acres funding. 

Under the agreement with the County, the nonprofit is permitted to use the former farmers market, packing shed and refrigerated storage space for its food collection and distribution operations. The agreement also permits the organization to use a 3-acre parcel of the park to grow crops and teaching gardens and to conduct community education and outreach programs.

The County is planning several improvements to the park, including the creation of restroom facilities, expanded parking area, new accessible trails and other amenities. The improvements also include extending public sewerage to the park, which will allow a service connection to one of the buildings used by Farmers Against Hunger.

Earlier this year, the Burlington County Bridge Commission’s Department of Economic Development and Improvement Authority organized the inaugural Burlington County Harvest Dinner, a special farm-to-table dinner featuring courses prepared by Rowan College at Burlington County culinary students with locally sourced ingredients. All proceeds from the event benefited the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Farmers Against Hunger program.

“Farmers Against Hunger is an organization on the front lines in the battle against hunger and food insecurity. Helping them is an easy decision because it benefits our residents and enhances our park through the organization’s programs and activities promoting agriculture and land management,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, the liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. 

For more information about Farmers Against Hunger, visit https://www.njagsociety.org/fah.html .