2. a. The Legislature finds and declares that there are certain urban areas of the State, known as “food desert” communities, in which residents are unable to obtain reasonable and adequate access to nutritious foods and, in particular, to fresh fruits and vegetables; that the inaccessibility of nutritious food in urban food desert communities has been attributed, in large part, to the absence therein of supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers’ markets and the prevalence therein of businesses like liquor stores and convenience marts, which provide convenient and affordable access only to pre-processed foods, generally high in empty calories, sugar, unhealthy preservatives, and harmful fats, and low in nutritional value; that low-income families are more likely than others to live in urban food desert communities and to lack the transportation or financial resources necessary to reach distant wholesome markets; that, as is evidenced by the work of various non-profit and private entities across the United States, the accessibility to, desire for, and use of, fresh produce by residents of urban food desert communities can be improved through the provision of mobile farmers’ markets, which regularly travel to and from these communities, and which provide fresh produce to residents situated therein; and that the institution of a mobile farmers’ market initiative is a reasonable means by which to ensure that residents of urban food desert communities in the State are provided with reasonable access to nutritious, fresh, and delicious produce, and are afforded the opportunity thereby to make healthier eating choices for themselves and for their families.

b. The Legislature therefore determines that it is both reasonable and necessary to authorize the Department of Agriculture to develop and assist in the implementation of a pilot program to establish a mobile farmers’ market initiative that will provide a consistent, and easily accessible, source of fresh produce to residents in urban food desert communities in municipalities selected to participate in the pilot program.

L.2011, c.223, s.2.