This bill mandates that school meal service providers prioritize the procurement of local and regional foods for students, specifically requiring them to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within a 100-mile radius of the destination school. The bill introduces new definitions, including "Food service management company," "Geographic preference requirements," and "Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program," which outline the roles and responsibilities of entities involved in the procurement process. It emphasizes the importance of sourcing food locally to support in-State agriculture and enhance the nutritional quality of school meals.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that any contracts between school food authorities and food service management companies or third-party vendors must include provisions that ensure compliance with these geographic preference requirements. School food authorities and their contracted vendors are required to maintain records and submit documentation to the Department of Agriculture to demonstrate adherence to these requirements. The bill aims to strengthen local food systems and ensure that school meal programs benefit from fresh, locally sourced ingredients while also supporting local farmers and food producers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:33-3.2