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)

Nonprofit organization

The term nonprofit organization means an organization, group, institute, or institution that qualifies as an organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. (3)

Program

The term Program means the Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion Program established under subsection (b). (4)

Underserved community

The term underserved community means a community (including an urban or rural community or an Indian tribe) that, as determined by the Secretary, has— (A)limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables; (B)a high incidence of a diet-related disease (including obesity) as compared to the national average; (C)a high rate of hunger or food insecurity; or (D)severe or persistent poverty. (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 assist in the improvement or expansion of existing CSAs; (2)to assist in the development of new CSAs; (3)to enhance the economic viability of agricultural producers; (4)to enhance the relationship between consumers and agricultural producers; (5)to encourage outreach and education activities that develop consumer interest in CSA participation; (6)to assist in the development, improvement, or expansion of innovative delivery and distribution programs that stimulate consumer interest in CSA participation; and (7)to assist in the development, improvement, and expansion of multifarm CSAs that— (A)allow agricultural producers to concentrate on the production of a few crops or the development of value-added products; and (B)stimulate consumer interest in CSA participation by offering an increased variety of products. (d)

Eligible entities

An entity shall be eligible to receive a grant under the Program if the entity is— (1)a nonprofit organization; (2)an extension service program operated through an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); (3)an agricultural producer; (4)a State or local government; (5)a public benefit corporation; or (6)such other entity as the Secretary may designate. (e)

Criteria and guidelines

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall establish criteria to evaluate and rank proposed projects under the Program. (2)

Preference

In developing the criteria, the Secretary shall emphasize support for— (A)public entities and nonprofit organizations that propose in an application to provide substantial financial and technical assistance directly to CSAs from individual- or family-operated farms; (B)CSAs from individually operated or family-operated farms; (C)the expansion of CSAs into underserved communities; (D)CSAs operated by or employing veterans (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code); and (E)the development, improvement, or expansion of innovative delivery and distribution programs that stimulate consumer interest in CSA participation. (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 2012; (B)$12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2015; and (C)$15,000,000 for each fiscal years 2016 through 2018. (2)

Interdepartmental coordination

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