# Small Farm to School Act of 2021

This bill creates a pilot program that gives extra money to schools when they buy food from local farms. The federal government would provide grants to eight states or tribal organizations across different regions of the country. These states would then pass along an extra 2.5 cents of reimbursement to schools for each lunch that includes locally grown food, helping schools afford to serve more fresh, local produce without straining their tight budgets.

The program is designed to help three groups at once. Schools get financial help to purchase local fruits and vegetables, which means kids potentially get fresher and healthier meals. Small farmers benefit because schools would buy directly from them instead of from distant suppliers, keeping money in local communities. The bill specifically targets schools serving lots of low-income students and requires states to match the federal funding dollar-for-dollar with their own money, showing real commitment to the program.

To qualify for the extra reimbursement, a lunch needs to include at least one component that's locally produced and unprocessed—meaning it comes from within 400 miles of the school or from within the same state. The food must come directly from independent farmers, farmer cooperatives, or local food distributors, not from large national suppliers. The bill includes protections to ensure the money supplements school budgets rather than replacing existing funding, and it limits administrative costs to just 3 percent so most money goes directly to schools and farmers.

The program runs for three years in each selected state, and participating states must report back on what they purchased, where it came from, and how the program affected local farming. The federal government would then analyze whether the investment actually helped farmers and local economies, using research similar to successful programs in New York and Michigan that showed local food incentives can double their economic impact.

Small Farm to School Act of 2021

Delgado, Antonio

Small Farm to School Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to award three-year grants to eight states or tribal organizations to provide school food authorities with an increased reimbursement for free and reduced price lunches that include at least one component that is comprised entirely of locally-produced and unprocessed foods procured directly from certain agricultural producers. USDA must select at least one state or tribal organization located in each of the following regions: (1) the Mid-Atlantic Region, (2) the Midwest Region, (3) the Mountain Plains Region, (4) the Northeast Region, (5) the Southern Region, (6) the Southwest Region, and (7) the Western Region. USDA must give the highest priority to applications that propose to carry out certain projects, including projects that (1) serve a high proportion of children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and (2) increase the availability of locally-produced foods to children. Additionally, priority must be given to states or tribal organizations with a high quantity and variety of growers of local fruits and vegetables on a per capita basis, and with a demonstrated commitment to farm-to-school activities. Each state or tribal organization that receives a grant must provide, from nonfederal sources, an amount equal to 100% of the awarded grant amount.