This bill mandates that school meal service providers prioritize the procurement of local and regional foods for students, specifically giving preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within a 100-mile radius of the destination school. The bill establishes new definitions, including "Food service management company," "Geographic preference requirements," and "Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program," which outline the framework for these procurement preferences. It requires that whenever a school food authority or contracted food service management company receives federal or State funding under the Local Food for Schools program, they must, to the greatest extent practicable, source foods from within this localized area.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that contracts between school food authorities and food service management companies must include provisions that ensure compliance with these geographic preference requirements. It also mandates that these entities maintain and submit records to the Department of Agriculture to demonstrate ongoing adherence to the procurement guidelines. The intent of the bill is to enhance the focus on local food sourcing, thereby supporting local economies and ensuring that students receive fresh, regional food options as part of their school meal programs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:33-3.2