New Jersey
New Jersey FoodTech Conference 2024
Will be held at Rutgers University on June 26
Rutgers University’s Food Innovation Center, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, along with Middlesex County, announce the New Jersey FoodTech 2024 Conference, which will be held on June 26 at the Rutgers College Avenue Student Center, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The conference costs $50 with registration by June 24. Registration is free for Rutgers faculty, staff, students and conference partners by emailing ayg6@njaes.rutgers.edu. (photos by Rutgers University)
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Rutgers University’s Food Innovation Center, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, along with Middlesex County, announce the New Jersey FoodTech 2024 Conference, which will be held on June 26 at the Rutgers College Avenue Student Center, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The conference costs $50 with registration by June 24. Registration is free for Rutgers faculty, staff, students and conference partners by emailing ayg6@njaes.rutgers.edu.
The conference, which was inaugurated last year to great success, is designed to help promote the growth of New Jersey’s food technology sector by building awareness of its strength in food innovation.
Keynote speaker, Lou Cooperhouse, is the founder, president & CEO of BlueNalu, and expressed his excitement at returning in this role.
“I’m excited to serve as keynote speaker again for this outstanding conference. The food industry is going through such an extraordinary transformation now and over the coming years, in which technologies are enabling precision agriculture, resulting in new forms of protein, personalizing nutrition, creating new methods for distribution and utilizing AI to better understand consumer motivations and product satisfaction.”
Cooperhouse, a leading global authority in food innovation, business and product differentiation, and technology commercialization, will speak on the topic, “Food for Thought: Food Industry Trends and the Power of Partnerships.”
He emphasizes this basic formula. “Success in the food industry begins with the identification of your company’s problem statement, and how your business differentiation creates a unique and valued selling proposition.”
To help businesses, from concept to commercialization, many established early-stage entrepreneurs and existing food companies often turn to the Rutgers Food Innovation Center (FIC) for support.
Rutgers Food Innovation Center.
Nolan Lewin is the executive director of FIC, a unique food business incubator in Bridgeton, NJ. Since 2001, FIC has been a strategic partner to New Jersey companies, providing enormous value to businesses and accelerating their pathway to market.
“FIC is a trusted source of information, expertise and capabilities, unmatched by other universities. It is FDA and USDA registered, capable of manufacturing goods that can be sold directly into market. Our Marketing and Food Safety programs also cover many facets of food and beverage manufacturing, including Competitive Sensory analysis, FSMA certificate training, Servesafe and GAP audit facility reviews.”
In addition to helping to grow NJ’s food technology sector, the FoodTech conference also aims to highlight business retention capacity and opportunities in the state.
Sho Islam, Division Head of Life Sciences & Food Innovation at Middlesex County’s Office of Business Engagement, is a speaker at NJ FoodTech 2024. He started his career with FIC, focusing on business development, entrepreneurship, innovation commercialization and strategic business consulting. Currently, Islam is responsible for providing business expansion and advisory support to companies located or interested in locating to Middlesex County.
He notes that New Jersey’s world class facilities – 22 million square feet of lab space that is expected to grow 27% by 2026, and highly skilled workforce – firmly establish the state as a hub for the life sciences.
According to Islam, “the same labs and talent pool that support life sciences are also spurring growth in food innovation across the state.”
Angel Planet Foods – a plant-based food company specializing in Asian cuisine – is one such New Jersey-based success story. A former incubated company with FIC, the company was founded in 2020 by Zheng Song, who served as a panelist at the inaugural NJ FoodTech conference in 2023.
“My experience was extraordinary. I was honored to be in the company of other entrepreneurs and investors, and found the conference to be a rewarding experience. The debut of the FoodTech conference was very successful.”
Song adds that “the plant-based presentations were very informative and I also enjoyed the networking and learning about the trends in the industry.”
FoodTech 2024 keynote speaker Lou Cooperhouse brings 40 years of experience in the food industry. He has close ties to FIC and New Jersey food innovation, having previously served as a founder and executive director of this award-winning program. He’s also the current chair of the Rutgers University Food Innovation Center Advisory Board.
His portfolio includes extensive entrepreneurial expertise leading cross-functional teams in a wide array of settings, including new business startups, multinational corporations, foodservice and retail operations, non-profits and trade associations, and university food incubation programs
Cooperhouse sums up why entrepreneurial startups, established businesses, industry suppliers, venture capital sources, non-profits, and others should attend the conference.
“Strategic partnerships can provide enormous value to an entrepreneurial company, as well as an established multinational corporation, and accelerate and support food innovation and market differentiation, and I look forward to sharing these insights at New Jersey FoodTech 2024.”
–Rutgers University
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) — One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting in Paterson.
The violence erupted around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of East 29th Street and 10th Avenue.
Children nearby gasped in horror at the sound of rapid gunfire. They were just about to sing Happy Birthday to their 13-year-old friend at her backyard party, but instead of blowing out the candles, they ducked for cover when they heard gunshots in the distance.
“Just hearing it – it was scary to witness, to hear. Especially on my birthday. Like a time I’m trying to play with my friends, get together,” said the 13-year-old.
She also says she had a friend who was there who saw what happened.
“He was going to the bodega – he went running back, but he had saw two people come out of a car and then shoot, but it was like an automatic gun,” she added.
Bystanders watched in shock and panic as first responders treated the victims. One of them was lying in the street next to a car and another was on the ground next to a bicycle.
Local councilman Luis Velez says the City of Paterson has taken measures to reduce crime in this part of town – what he calls a ‘hotspot’ — in part by installing security cameras. He is encouraging the community to cooperate.
“Paterson Police is doing their job as I know, they’re doing a great job to reduce crime, but one again we, the police, nobody, not even the news media has a crystal ball to say this is going to happen now,” Velez said, “Some people see corners getting built up, they see activities and they’re afraid to come out and say something, but our police department is trained to keep it confidential and approach to bring the quality of life in this area.”
The 13-year-old hopes her next birthday party is not ruined by the sound of gunshots.
“First we thought it was fireworks, but then we heard sirens and everyone started going home because they were scared,” she added.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Let’s be honest, we didn’t need a national list to tell us this. New Jersey has the best restaurants, the best food, and some of the most talented chefs anywhere in America.
It’s something locals have been saying forever, and now the rest of the country is catching up. Still, it’s always nice to see that recognition on a big stage.
We Already Knew New Jersey Was the Best
USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list highlights standout dining destinations across the country.
From humble roadside gems to chef-driven hotspots earning major buzz, the list celebrates places that truly stand out, and New Jersey showed up in a big way.
Three New Jersey Spots Earn National Recognition
This year, three Garden State restaurants made the prestigious list:
- The Pasta Shop – Denville
- Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
- Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
And yes, that includes a Jersey Shore favorite, because of course it does.
These restaurants represent everything people love about dining in New Jersey, quality, creativity, and flavors that keep you coming back.
A Jersey Shore Standout Shines
There’s something special about seeing a Jersey Shore restaurant included among the best in America. It’s not just about great food, it’s about the full experience, the atmosphere, and that unmistakable local charm.
Anjelica’s in Sea Bright earning a spot only reinforces what shore locals already know: some of the best meals you’ll ever have are right here, close to home.
No Surprise, Just Well-Deserved
At the end of the day, this recognition feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation. New Jersey’s food scene has always been top-tier, and lists like this just make it official.
Keep Reading: Beloved New Jersey Restaurant is Closing
So whether you’re heading to Denville, Metuchen, or down the shore, you already know, you’re in for something special.
PHOTOS: Step Inside a 1970s Kitchen — 34 Things You’ll Recognize
From Tupperware jugs (you know the ones) to those ever-present knife sharpeners, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the quintessential ’70s kitchen.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
FIFA and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have become embroiled in a war of words this past week as the prospect of $150 train tickets to travel to World Cup games and plans to close parts of New York’s Penn Station have angered residents.
The recent uproar began after reports surfaced April 6 that parts of Penn Station would be closed to NJ Transit commuters not attending World Cup games for four hours before kickoff during the eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
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Moreover, round-trip train tickets between Penn Station in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup is set to be played, were announced by NJ Transit to come in at $150 per person.
A return ride on the same line typically costs $12.90, according to NJ Transit.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026.
In a press release on April 17, Sherrill said the move to increase prices was caused by FIFA’s decision to eliminate parking at MetLife Stadium. The Democratic governor said price increases happened because FIFA did not agree to cover the costs of transporting fans.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” Sherrill said.
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More: Going to World Cup at MetLife Stadium? Expect $150 train tickets and no parking
FIFA, on the other hand, has said the price increase would have a “chilling effect” on fans attending games in New Jersey and said Sherrill’s demands asking FIFA to absorb transportation costs for fans were “unprecedented.”
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup,” Heimo Schirgi, COO for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The NJ Transit logo is seen in the lobby of the New Jersey Transit headquarters ahead of a press briefing on the New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 regional mobility plan in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 2026.
What are other cities doing with World Cup transportation?
New Jersey has not been the only place where transportation costs have been the subject of discussion ahead of the World Cup. In Boston, round-trip train train tickets on the MBTA from Boston’s South Station to Gillette Stadium are being sold for $80.
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Special event trains to Foxborough for New England Patriots NFL games and New England Revolution MLS matches are usually $20 for a round trip, according to local news station CBS Boston.
Other cities have not seen increases like the ones in New Jersey and Boston. In Atlanta, for example, train fares on the city’s MARTA will be $2.50 per ride, with children able to travel for free with a paying adult.
Kansas City is offering $15 round-trip shuttle rides for fans parking in four different park-and-ride locations, as well as those coming from FIFA’s Fan Festival in the city. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is offering fans a $3.50 round trip train ticket on its Metro Train.
SEPTA in Philadelphia is also keeping its prices low, with fans set to pay the base $2.90 fare for a ride on its Broad Street Line, which takes riders to Lincoln Financial Field, set to host six matches.
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Katie Sobko from USA TODAY Network’s NorthJersey.com contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup fans going to MetLife Stadium to pay $150 for NJT ticket
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