I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3092 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 4, 2011 Mr. Welch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Local School Foods Act.

2.

Pilot program for purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions

Section 10603 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c–4) is amended— (1)in subsection (a), by inserting or to provide grants under the pilot program described in subsection (c) after crops; (2)by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (3)by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c)

Pilot program for purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions

(1)

In general

Of the amount specified in subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall use not more than $1,000,000 to conduct a pilot program under which the Secretary will give not more than three 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 2012 and 2013. (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 participating 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.). (3)

Selection of participating States

The Secretary shall select participating States from applications submitted by the States. Each participating State shall be from a different Department of Agriculture region. (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. .