II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4030 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 15, 2010 Mr. Sanders introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to establish a community-supported agriculture promotion program.

1.

Community-supported agriculture promotion program

Subtitle A of title X of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (122 Stat. 2097; Public Law 110–246) is amended by adding at the end the following:

10110.

Community-supported agriculture promotion program

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

CSA

The term CSA means a farm operated in a manner consistent with community-supported agriculture, as defined by the Secretary. (2)

Low-income area

The term low-income area means a low-income area, as defined by the Secretary. (3)

Program

The term Program means the Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion Program established under subsection (b). (b)

Establishment

The Secretary shall carry out a program, to be known as the Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion Program, to promote community-supported agriculture. (c)

Program purposes

The purposes of the Program are— (1)to increase domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by improving and expanding, or assisting in improvement or expansion of, domestic community-supported agriculture programs; (2)to develop, or aid in the development of, new community-supported agriculture programs; (3)to promote, or aid in the promotion or development of, new or existing community-supported agriculture programs by— (A)facilitating the formation of multi-farm CSAs to increase variety available to members of the CSAs and to allow agricultural producers to concentrate on the production of fewer crops; (B)assisting with the development of innovative delivery and distribution programs to increase the desirability and ease of participating in community-supported agriculture; (C)assisting with promotion of community-supported agriculture through workplace wellness initiatives or as a part of employee benefit packages; and (D)assisting individual CSAs or groups of CSAs with marketing, outreach, crop development, or other business-related matters; and (4)to increase participation in CSA in low-income areas or food deserts, as defined by the Secretary. (d)

Eligible entities

An entity shall be eligible to receive a grant under the Program if the entity is— (1)a nonprofit corporation; (2)an agricultural cooperative or producer network or association; (3)a local government; (4)a public benefit corporation; or (5)such other entity as the Secretary may designate. (e)

Criteria and guidelines

The Secretary shall establish criteria and guidelines for the submission, evaluation, and funding of proposed projects under the Program. (f)

Funding

(1)

In general

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section— (A)$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; (B)$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2013; and (C)$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2016. (2)

Use of funds

(A)

In general

Not less than 50 percent of the funds made available under paragraph (1) to carry out this section during a fiscal year shall be used to support the purposes described in subsection (c) through nonprofit organizations that are specifically dedicated to promoting local or organic agriculture. (B)

Limitation

Funds made available under subparagraph (A) may not be used to pay— (i)the administrative cost of carrying out any project; and (ii)the cost of the construction of any structure or the purchase of capital equipment of any kind. (3)

Interdepartmental coordination

In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, coordination between the applicable agencies.

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