Setting local purchasing goals and establishing grant program

This law sets the goal that 20% of all school food purchases are “local” by 2023 and establishes a grant program to encourage local food procurement, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. Before submitting an initial application for a local foods incentive grant (grant), school districts and supervisory unions must: 1) have developed a local food procurement plan, 2) have a designated individual responsible for implementing the plan, 3) have developed a process for tracking local food purchases, and 4) be in compliance with the annual reporting requirement. First-year award amounts are calculated by multiplying $0.15 by the number of reimbursable school lunches served in the previous school year. For subsequent applications, schools must demonstrate that at least 15% of the cost of all foods grown, raised or produced by the school in the previous year met the Vermont local definition, excluding food used for catering services and fluid milk. Subsequent awards are calculated based on the school’s local food purchasing percentage and number of meals served in the previous year: $0.15 per meal if the school purchased at least 15% local; $0.20 per meal if the school purchased at least 20% local; and $0.25 per meal if the school purchased at least 25% local. For applications covering the 2020-2021 school year, meals served through the Summer Food Service Program shall also be counted for this grant payment. The Agency of Education may audit school applications to ensure the information is accurate. The Agency is required to report annually to two Senate committees on the status of local food purchasing by schools.