by: Jim Vasil
HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (PIX11) — Farming is hard, but one fruit of her labor is knowing her farm is feeding local kids.
At Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough, owner Debbie Norz partners with the Township’s schools to make sure they’re getting her products in its cafeterias, from San Marzano tomatoes -which Norz says are great for sauce- to beef and pork.
“The kids in Hillsborough that get these amazing lunches is what everybody should be getting,” said Norz.
But the economics of food can get complicated. For many school districts, it’s sometimes cheaper to buy food that comes from out of state. A bill in Trenton would look to help some schools break down that barrier.
“It’s connecting food with the local farming community. It’s connecting food with the kids,” said Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-NJ 16th District) is sponsoring a bill that would create a $4.5 million program in the State’s Agriculture department to dole out grants to school districts to use to source and procure local food.
The Assembly passed the bill last month. Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-NJ 16th District) is hoping his colleagues help get it to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk.
“My son is a farmer,” said Zwicker, “so I know firsthand that local food is good for you. Locally-sourced food is the best food we could possibly be eating.”
Farm workers Leni and Drew Mascaro are both students at Somerville High School, which Norz says has reached out to her about procuring local food.
“It’s fresher,” said Leni Mascaro. “I work here. I actually was in the garden picking food yesterday and I know I am picking the good stuff. I know what’s going to good for people to eat.”
“It would mean a lot to me,” said Drew Mascaro, “because we know what’s put into it, you know, we put our own heart, sweat and tears into growing that food.”
The legislature is due to return in September.
Link to article