Bill Text: NJ A4580 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Revises NJ Farm to School Program to require schools to purchase locally grown produce and fruit when available and establishes grant program; appropriates $2.5 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-09-22 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A4580 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4580-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BETH SAWYER
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Revises NJ Farm to School Program to require schools to purchase locally grown produce and fruit when available and establishes grant program; appropriates $2.5 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the "New Jersey Farm to School Program," amending P.L.2011, c.10, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2011, c.10 (C.4:10-25.2) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The Department of Agriculture shall develop a "New Jersey Farm to School Program" and pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations for its implementation, including, but not necessarily limited to, rules and regulations that:
(1) [provide encouragement for schools that participate in school meal programs to expand or improve their kitchen facilities to allow for the daily production of meals that incorporate more fresh, locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products] implement the grant program established pursuant to subsection d. of this section to provide funding for schools to purchase additional New Jersey grown, raised, or caught produce, meat, or seafood, or other fresh, locally grown produce and fruit ;
(2) [establish a bidding matrix that provides for school purchases of New Jersey-grown food and allows schools to adopt price preferences for local agricultural and farm products] create annual trainings for schools to increase their capacity to purchase New Jersey grown, raised, or caught produce, meat, or seafood or other fresh, locally grown produce and fruit; [and]
(3) in conjunction and cooperation with the Department of Education, provide for the incorporation and coordination of school curricula with information about:
(a) New Jersey agriculture;
(b) the importance and significance of farms and farmers to New Jersey's economy, culture, history, and quality of life; and
(c) the health value of eating fresh farm foods and locally grown produce and fruits ; and
(4) establish a bidding matrix for the purchase of produce, meat, and seafood or other fresh, locally grown produce and fruit by schools, based on geographical preference which shall be updated annually for each school food authority.
b. The Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Department of Education, shall develop a training program with emphasis on the theme of "Farm to School" and shall offer this program to schools, teachers, and other event providers.
c. (1) The Department of Agriculture shall establish a "New Jersey Farm to School" website that shall be designed to:
(a) provide opportunities for the establishment of purchasing networks between and among farmers, distributors, and schools or school districts;
(b) facilitate the development and refinement of promotional events in association with "Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week"; and
(c) provide for the dissemination of information about, and the website-based promotion of, these and other related events.
The department shall include on the "New Jersey Farm to School" website [a copy of any public contract or other written agreement for the purchase of fresh foods and the provision thereof to school children, which has been entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State] copies of any public contract or informal procurement agreement that has been successfully used to purchase New Jersey grown, raised, or caught food or other fresh, locally grown produce and fruit.
(2) The department shall post, in a prominent location on the homepage of its Internet website, a hyperlink that provides visitors with direct access to the "New Jersey Farm to School" website established pursuant to this subsection.
d. (1) There is established in the Department of Agriculture a grant program to assist in providing funding for schools to purchase additional New Jersey grown, raised, or caught produce, meat, seafood, or other fresh, locally grown produce and fruit.
(2) Grants under the program shall be awarded on a competitive basis. School districts that receive a grant under the program shall use the funds to purchase New Jersey grown, raised, or caught produce, meat, seafood, or other fresh, locally grown produce and fruit.
(3) To be eligible for a grant award under the program, a school district shall submit an application to the Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program. Grants shall be awarded based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. The Secretary shall establish the amount for each grant that is approved.
e. No later than one year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Department of Agriculture shall review the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section and adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations that require schools to purchase locally grown or sourced produce and fruit, when available.
(cf: P.L.2014, c.37, s.1)
2. (New section) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture a sum of $2.5 million for costs associated with the grant program established pursuant to subsection d. of section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would amend the New Jersey Farm to School Program to require schools to purchase food grown, raised, or caught in New Jersey, when available. Under current law, the New Jersey Farm to School Program encourages schools to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate in school meals throughout the growing season, and to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students during the school day. This bill would remove the provisions that encourage schools to purchase local food, and instead require schools to purchase food produced in the State.
This bill would establish a grant program in the Department of Agriculture to assist in providing funding for schools to purchase additional New Jersey grown, raised, or caught produce, meat, seafood, or other fresh, locally grown produce and fruit.
The Secretary of Agriculture would be required to establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program. Grants would be awarded based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. This bill would appropriate $2.5 million from the General Fund for the grant program established under the bill.
This bill would require the Department of Agriculture to review and update the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the "New Jersey Farm to School Program" established pursuant to P.L.2011, c.10 (C.4:10-25.2) to include rules and regulations that would require schools to purchase locally grown or sourced produce and fruit, when available.
