Under a bill backed by outgoing Senate President Steve Sweeney, advanced Monday by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, New Jersey grocers would face a $200 fine for selling a New York-grown apple as ‘local’ fruit.
Sweeney’s bill should combat foreign fruits and vegetables from being dumped on New Jersey shelves in a way that dupes consumers. However, some in the produce industry worry the bill could be overly punitive and appealed for Sweeney to amend it. The fines included in the bill would apply to any grocery store, supermarket, farmers market or convenience store that sells a mislabeled fruit or vegetable.
“We certainly understand the issue that the bill is trying to address,” said Michael DeLoreto, a lobbyist for the New Jersey Food Council who testified Monday. “Our concern is that this is not the best method by which to go about doing this.”
Source: politico.com
