Our Mission

To build, grow, and empower a broad, connected, grassroots network of food system stakeholders, to democratically transform the state’s food and agriculture system to be resilient, safe, equitable, and prosperous.

What we value.

Collaboration & Shared Leadership

Transparency & Accountability

Equity & Grassroots Organizing

Civic Engagement & Democracy

    • AlMunir Farms

    • Better Food Policy Fund

    • Black and Brown, Immigrant, Indigenous Farmers United (BIFU-NJ)

    • CATA-Farmworkers

    • Center for Environmental Transformation

    • City Green, Good Food Bucks

    • Communitites Revolutionizing Open Public Spaces

    • Community Foundation of South Jersey

    • Community Food Bank of NJ

    • Duke Foundation

    • Foodshed Alliance (SAgE and LcoalShare)

    • Growing Justice Fund

    • Habitat for Humanity Passaic County

    • Ignite One

    • Interfaith Neighbors

    • League of Conservation Voters

    • Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity

    • Montclair State University

    • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

    • Newark Science and Sustainability

    • NJ Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

    • NJ Agricultural Society

    • NJ Citizen Action

    • NJ Department of Agriculture

    • NJ Food Security Initiative

    • NJ Health Initiatives

    • NJ Highlands Coalition

    • NJ Home Bakers Association

    • NJ Home Bakers' Association 

    • North American Food Systems Network

    • North Jersey R C & D

    • Northeast Organic Farmers Associaton-NJ

    • NourishNJ

    • Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Rancocas Creek Farm

    • Rolling Harvest Food Rescue

    • Rowan University Public Health & Wellness

    • Rutgers Cooperative Extension

    • Rutgers Equity Alliance for Community Health

    • Rutgers NB Farmers Markets

    • Rutgers Against Hunger

    • Rutgers University Rutgers, Family and Community Health Sciences

    • RWJBarnabas Health

    • NJ State Agriculture Development Committee, Next Gen Farmer Program

    • South Jersey Institute for Population Health

    • The Common Market

    • The Food Trust

    • Underserved Farmers Network 

    • Urban Agriculture Cooperative 

    • And dozens of individual NJ Farm businesses

Who participates in NJFDC?

More than 300 individuals from 20 different sectors across the state are participating in NJFDC workgroups, projects, and other activities. These organizations share a common vision for an equitable and resilient food system. This includes

Farmers, community based organizations, state and county government, health care organizations, academic researchers and students, cooperative extension, emergency/charitable organizations, food justice and social justice advocacy groups, sustainability focused organizations, and more.

Structure & Approach

Within NJFDC, we house:

  • The New Jersey Food Policy Council (NJFPC): serves as a statewide, multi-sector policy coordination body. The Council translates shared needs from across New Jersey’s food and farming sectors into aligned policy priorities, legislative strategies, and public recommendations. 

    It brings together representatives from farming, food access, labor, public health, research, and advocacy, alongside critical, non-voting public agencies and academic partners who participate in advisory roles. This structure enables constructive engagement with state agencies, legislators, and research institutions while preserving the Council’s independence and community-centered leadership.

  • NJ Alliance for Local Food & Farms: The collaborative home for NJFDC’s stakeholder-led working groups, where food and farm organizations align around shared needs, exchange resources and best practices, and collaborate on technical assistance and program strategies. 

Together, this model forms a unified statewide ecosystem that bridges policy leadership and grassroots organizing to create a clear and effective pathway from practice to policy.

Meet Our Team

  • Stacey Benjamin

    Marketing & Communications Manager

  • Jeanine Cava

    Executive Director, Co-Founder

  • Bryanna Fogel, MSSP

    Coalitions & Working Groups Manager

  • Vishva Oralie

    Working Group Support Intern

  • Anna Soloniuk

    Public Policy Research Fellow

  • Rachel Wilson

    South Jersey Farmers’ Equity and Sustainability Team Co-Lead

Meet Our Advisory Board

  • Javonne Alonzo

    Student Impact Lead, FoodCorps Food Studies and Sustainable Food Systems Scholar Item

  • Marissa Baron

    Operations Manager, Growing Justice Fund

  • Avika Bansal

    Consultant at BCG

  • Garrett Broad

    Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Rowan University

  • Anthony Capece

    Founder & Principal Consultant

    Capece Consulting

  • Kristie Braun Cole, MBA

    Senior Regional Director, NYC & FL Mack Property Management

  • Laura Cole

    Community Organizer, Earthworker, Black Immigrant Farmers United, Urban Agriculture Cooperative

  • Cara L. Cuite, Ph.D.

    Associate Extension Specialist/Associate Professor, Department of Human Ecology, Rutgers University

  • Nyssa Entrekin, MS, RD

    Associate Director of Community Based Programming, The Food Trust

  • Melanie Ganzman

    Owner, Operator, Fluffy Farm, and South Jersey Farmer Collective, SJ FEAST Steering Committee

  • Njeri Jenkins

    Njeri Jenkins, MPP Policy Lead & Advocacy Manager , DC Action

  • Ricardo Kairios, MS

    Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Community Health Sciences, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

  • Lisette Kwong

    Corporate Communications, Kyndryl

  • Viergela Bionka Louidor

    COO ANMP Creative Studio , Founder Boukman Hospitality Group

  • April Milevski, MS, RDN

  • Mariely Moronta-Sanchez

    Regional CRA Officer M&T Bank (NYC, Lower Hudson Valley)

  • Fatima Niangado (She/Her)

    MPH Candidate, Rutgers

  • Hiral Shukla

    Social Determinants of Health Community Strategist Aetna-CVS Health

  • Elaine Tanimura

    Community Leader