Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Local School Foods Act of 2013”.
Local School Foods Act of 2013
A BILL
To conduct a pilot program in support of efforts to increase the amount of purchases of local fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions by giving certain States the option of receiving a grant from the Secretary of Agriculture for that purpose instead of obtaining commodities under Department of Agriculture programs.
Sec. 2 Additional authority for purchase of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other specialty food crops
Section 10603 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c–4) is amended—
in subsection (b), by striking “2012” and inserting “2017”;
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:
“(c) Pilot grant program for purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables
“(1) In general—Using amounts made available to carry out subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a pilot program under which the Secretary will give not more than five participating States the option of receiving a grant in an amount equal to the value of the commodities that the participating State would otherwise receive under this section for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
“(2) Use of grant funds—A participating State receiving a grant under this subsection may use the grant funds solely to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to schools and service institutions in the State that participate in the food service programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.). To the maximum extent practicable, the fruits and vegetables shall be locally grown, as determined by the State.
“(3) Selection of participating States—The Secretary shall select participating States from applications submitted by the States.
“(4) Reporting requirements
“(A) School and service institution requirement—Schools and service institutions in a participating State shall keep records of purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables made using the grant funds and report such records to the State.
“(B) State requirement—Each participating State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the success of the pilot program in the State, including information on—
“(i) the amount and value of each type of fresh fruit and vegetable purchased by the State; and
“(ii) the benefit provided by such purchases in conducting the school food service in the State, including meeting school meal requirements.”