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Food Security in Somerset County

A Panel Discussion

Join three local leaders for a conversation about the many connections that make up our food system—from the farms to the organizations and partnerships that help strengthen food access and security.

Food security is about more than whether someone has enough food today. It is about whether our community has built a system where everyone can reliably access nutritious, culturally relevant food — today, tomorrow, and in times of crisis.

Somerset County has more than 11,000 residents receiving SNAP benefits, but that number tells only part of the story. It does not capture people experiencing food insecurity who have not enrolled in SNAP, or those who may not qualify for assistance but are still struggling to make ends meet.

Our food pantry providers are seeing year-over-year increases in visits, including a significant number of working families who are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the rising costs of housing, utilities, medication, transportation, and groceries.

Panelists:

• Debbie Norz, farmer and owner of Norz Hill Farm in Hillsborough, will discuss how we grow, produce, and sustain the food that feeds our community, including the role of SNAP and farmers markets in increasing access to locally grown food.
• Steve Katz, Executive Director of the Food Bank Network of Somerset County will share what happens when families cannot reliably afford enough food and what food banks and pantries are seeing on the ground, including the experiences of working families seeking assistance.
• Kate Russo, Somerset County Department of Human Services, Planning Administration and Food Coalition, will discuss how community collaboration can strengthen our local food system and connect residents to resources, including school meals, Human Services Navigators, food access mapping, and other community-based supports.

Moderator:

Shailja Mathur, Senior Program Coordinator of Family and Community Health Services at Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Applying her expertise in Chronic Disease Prevention, Shailja plays a vital role in the facilitation of prevention programs which help improve the health of New Jersey’s South Asian communities. Some of her efforts include her work with the farmers markets, schools, and senior centers.

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