Assembly Bill 804 establishes a new "farm to fork" program aimed at connecting non-school entities with local farms to provide nutritious, locally sourced foods in meals and snacks. This initiative is designed to promote healthy eating habits, enhance nutritional and agricultural education, and improve farmers' incomes by facilitating direct access to markets. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is tasked with administering grants to support these efforts, as well as expanding existing farm to school programs. The bill emphasizes the importance of innovative proposals and prioritizes funding for school districts with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

In addition to creating the farm to fork program, the bill includes provisions for matching funds for the federal farm to school program and grants for various entities, including businesses and universities, to develop their own farm to fork initiatives. The legislation also allows DATCP to promote agricultural development and farm profitability through the support of value-added agricultural products. To facilitate the implementation of these programs, the bill increases authorized positions within DATCP and allocates additional funding for the upcoming fiscal years.