(SALEM) – Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro (D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) issued the following statement Friday on the need to export more New Jersey dairy products and on his resolution AR-156, which was approved by the General Assembly Thursday:
“There are so many communities in our state which are reliant upon domestic and international dairy sales.
“Foreign diary sales have been increasing steadily over the past 15 years, having quadrupled since 2000 to the tune of $5 billion, and while New Jersey has been a beneficiary of this to some degree, I think we deserve better.
“We possess some of the most highly graded dairy products in the country and yield an impressive amount of product with 54 Grade A dairy farms, more than 6,500 dairy cows, and milk production that is valued at over $20 million and yet, we are overshadowed by the exportation of other states’ dairy products.
“It is imperative that the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Commerce increase the exportation of our dairy products to provide additional jobs to the citizens of our state and to boost our economy.
“We are not asking for handouts—all we are asking for is the recognition we deserve.
“All of our residents know that our dairy products are second to none, and I have no doubts that dairy consumers around the world agree.”