Creating the Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act

This law sets a goal that 20% of food purchases made by certain state entities should be local farm or food products. Additionally, it directs the State to support and encourage certain entities to make 10% of their food and food product purchases from local farms or producers. Such entities are to include those “funded in part or in whole by State dollars, which spend more than $25,000 per year on food or food products for its students, residents, or clients, including, without limitation, public schools, child care facilities, after-school programs, and hospitals.” The law also allows bidders for state food contracts that would provide local food to be given a preference over other bidders, as long as the cost isn’t more than 10% higher than other bids. This law also requires the Department of Agriculture to develop a database to facilitate school purchases of fresh food products. The database must contain contact information for agricultural producers and schools. The Department is authorized to solicit federal and state funds to support the farm to school database. Definitions for this law are included at section 5.