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New Jersey’s
Secretary of Agriculture is the department’s executive officer,
secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the
Governor's cabinet.
The Secretary
of Agriculture fulfills executive, management and administrative
duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction.
The Secretary oversees the development and implementation of specific
programs required to meet State Board policy directives. He is also
an active member of a number of international, national, federal,
state, county and local organizations with an interest in agriculture
and related areas.
The Office
of the Secretary supports programs relating to the economic development
of production agriculture; the marketing of agricultural products
through the Jersey Fresh program; conservation and development of
natural and renewable resources; distribution of surplus federal
commodities to soup kitchens, food pantries, schools, state hospitals
and institutions; and the health and well-being of the state’s
greenhouse/nursery and livestock industries as well as other programs
related to these areas.
In addition,
the Office of the Secretary directs and coordinates the development
and analysis of agricultural policy and department budget for the
Secretary and the State Board of Agriculture. The Office coordinates
the department's legal and legislative services and rule-making
functions, serves as the state's liaison for USDA agricultural disaster
matters and directs departmental efforts to support of the Governor's
statewide policy issues.
The Office
of the Secretary also handles relations with agricultural and other
organizations, outreach to news media and the public, liaison to
the State Legislature and United States Congress, the Ag in the
Classroom Program and other state and national agricultural organizations.
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