One concrete step the Department has taken to promote a better diet is its Senior Farmers Market initiative, a pilot program in four municipalities to provide 500 low-income seniors with vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers markets during the New Jersey growing season. The Department will continue to look for other opportunities to promote healthy eating behaviors among New Jerseyans. In terms of early detection for colorectal cancer, Medicare has also introduced coverage for colorectal cancer screening, and the Department is again working with the PRO to alert older adults to this benefit. Healthy New Jersey 2000 does not contain goals for prostate cancer or malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma incidence rates have been rising at a rate of 4 percent per year, even though this type of skin cancer is largely preventable through reducing sun exposure.
Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among men in New Jersey.
These two types of cancer are being addressed in the state's comprehensive cancer control plan. Once again the focus is on prevention, in the case of melanoma, and education, early detection and treatment for both melanoma and prostate cancer. The Department will encourage men age 50 and over, and black men 40 and older, to complete the PSA test and digital rectal exam.