{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-of-thanksgiving-menendez-introduces-the-produce-act-at-jersey-citys-lifecap-farms", "Ahead of Thanksgiving, Menendez Introduces the PRODUCE Act at Jersey City\u2019s LifeCap Farms", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) introduced the Providing Robust Organics and Diets for Urban Communities Everywhere (PRODUCE) Act during a visit to LifeCap Farms, a leading sustainable mushroom farm in Jersey City. Announced just days before Thanksgiving, the legislation would support urban agriculture, increase resources available to urban producers, and expand access to fresh, healthy food for families across the country.\n\n\u201cUrban agriculture strengthens our communities by increasing access to nutritious food and supporting local businesses,\u201d said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08). \u201cAs we approach Thanksgiving, far too many families still struggle to access fresh, healthy options. Operations like LifeCap Farms show how community-rooted, innovative agriculture can meet these challenges head-on. The PRODUCE Act would give urban growers the tools they need to expand urban production, reinforce local food networks, and ensure every family has access to the high-quality foods that they deserve.\u201d\n\nThe PRODUCE Act would significantly expand the capacity of the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (\u201cOUAIP\u201d) by doubling its authorization for discretionary funding to $50 million per year. The OUAIP was created under the 2018 Farm Bill to support the rapid growth of urban and suburban farming. Its grant program funds projects focused on food access, education, start-up support, and policy development. Due to high demand, however, OUAIP can only supply grants and technical assistance to a fraction of applicants.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez also introduced this legislation during the 118th Congress.\n\nFounded in 2018 by New Jersey native Baris Sonmez, LifeCap Farms operates out of a 6,000-square-foot warehouse using proprietary, resource-efficient technology to grow gourmet mushrooms year-round. In addition to distributing fresh and processed mushroom products, the farm runs a bi-weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) mushroom box and hosts school tours to teach students about nutrition, sustainability, and the science behind mushroom cultivation.\n\nFor full text of the bill, click here.???\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez has represented New Jersey\u2019s Eighth Congressional District in Congress since 2023. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Subcommittees on the Environment, Energy, and Communications and Technology.??", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-of-thanksgiving-menendez-introduces-the-produce-act-at-jersey-citys-lifecap-farms"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7501114159822464, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}