S.Amdt. 2459

1. Adds SEC. 4208. ENCOURAGING LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY PRODUCED FOOD at the end of title IV

   Adds a section

   In S. 3240 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   When the Secretary considers the purchasing of commodities by the Commodity Credit Corporation or under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), in addition to other appropriate considerations, the Secretary may consider the needs of the States and the demands placed on emergency feeding organizations.

   Inserted: SEC. 4208. ENCOURAGING LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY PRODUCED FOOD.

   Inserted: (a) Commodity Purchase Streamlining.--The Secretary may allow a school food authority with low annual commodity entitlement values, as determined by the Secretary, to substitute for the allotment of the school food authority for commodities commonly referred to as "USDA Foods" if--

   Inserted: (1) the option is requested by the eligible school food authority;

   Inserted: (2) the Secretary determines that the option will reduce Federal and State administrative costs; and

   Inserted: (3) the option will provide the eligible school food authority with greater flexibility to purchase locally and regionally produced foods.

   Inserted: (b) Farm-to-school Demonstration Projects.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish not less than 10 farm-to-school demonstration programs under which school food authorities, agricultural producers producing for local and regional markets, and other farm-to-school stakeholders collaborate with the Agricultural Marketing Service to obtain food for school meals from local agricultural producers rather than through other agricultural and food programs of the Secretary.

   Inserted: (2) Requirements.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--A demonstration program under this subsection shall, to the maximum extent practicable--

   Inserted: (i) facilitate and increase the purchase of unprocessed and minimally processed locally and regionally produced agricultural commodities and products to be served in school meal programs;

   Inserted: (ii) test methods to improve procurement, transportation, and meal preparation processes;

   Inserted: (iii) assess whether administrative costs can be saved through increased school authority flexibility to source locally and regionally produced agricultural commodities and foods; and

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   Inserted: (iv) undertake rigorous evaluation and share information about results, including cost savings, with the Department of Agriculture, school food authorities, agricultural producers producing for local and regional markets, and the general public.

   Inserted: (B) Plans.--The Secretary shall require demonstration project participants to provide plans that detail compliance with this subsection.

   Inserted: (3) Duration.--The Secretary shall determine the appropriate period of time for each demonstration program.

   Inserted: (4) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate among relevant agencies of the Department of Agriculture and nongovernmental organizations with appropriate expertise to facilitate the provision of training and technical assistance necessary to the successful implementation of demonstration programs under this subsection.

   Inserted: (5) Diversity and balance.--In establishing the demonstration programs under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure--

   Inserted: (A) geographical diversity;

   Inserted: (B) that at least \1/2\ of the demonstration programs are completed in collaboration with school food authorities with relatively small annual commodity entitlements, as determined by the Secretary;

   Inserted: (C) at least \1/2\ of demonstration programs are completed in rural or tribal communities; and

   Inserted: (D) equitable treatment of school food authorities with a high percentage of students participating in the free or reduced price lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).

   Original wording

   At the end of title IV, add the following:

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As printed