Sec. 7. Agriculture programs
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The Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 ( 7 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) is amended— by redesignating section 7 as section 8; and by inserting after section 6 the following new section: The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, shall carry out a program to make loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities for projects or activities to establish, expand, and promote direct producer-to-consumer marketing and assist in the development of local food business enterprises by such entities, including— projects for the construction of new farmers’ markets; projects for the improvement or rehabilitation of existing farmers’ markets; projects for the acquisition of equipment for farmers’ markets and other infrastructure needs; projects for the purchase, acquisition, and rehabilitation of land or property for use as a farmers’ market; transportation and delivery activities; activities carried out through agritourism initiatives; and projects, including planning and feasibility initiatives for the expansion or establishment of farmers’ markets designed to increase sales in areas not easily accessible through traditional transportation activities.
The purposes of the program established under subsection
(a)are to increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets, by developing, improving, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or assisting in the development, improvement and expansion of— domestic farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities; and local and regional food business enterprises (including those that are not direct producer-to-consumer markets) that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products. An eligible entity seeking a loan or loan guarantee under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time and in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including documentation demonstrating the financial need of the entity. An entity shall be eligible to receive a loan or loan guarantee under this section if the entity is— an agricultural cooperative or other agricultural business entity or a producer network or association, including a community supported agriculture network or association; a local government; a nonprofit corporation; a public benefit corporation; an economic development corporation; a regional farmers' market authority; or such other entity as the Secretary may designate. The Secretary shall establish criteria and guidelines for the submission, evaluation, and funding of proposed projects under this section. In providing loans or loan guarantees under this section, priority shall be given to applications that include projects or activities that benefit underserved communities, including communities that— are located in— an urban area (as defined in section 2 of the Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2017); or an area of concentrated poverty with limited access to fresh locally or regionally grown foods; and have not received benefits pursuant to a loan or loan guarantee in the recent past. The interest rate on a loan under this section (other than a loan guarantee under this section) shall be as determined by the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, but not less than such rate as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the maturities of such loan, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury on the date the loan is made. The interest rate for each loan under this section shall remain in effect for the term of the loan. As a condition of receiving a loan or loan guarantee under this section, a recipient of such a loan or loan guarantee shall certify that the recipient will reserve, for the sale of locally produced food products (as determined by the Secretary) produced by farmers, producers, ranchers, or aquaculture, mariculture, or fisheries operators, or by associations of farmers, producers, ranchers, or those operators, not less than 50 percent of the floor area of a farmers’ market— that is operated or facilitated by the recipient; and with respect to which loan funds will be used. Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. . Subsection
(g)of section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 ( 7 U.S.C. 3005 ) is amended— in paragraph (1)— in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end; in subparagraph (D), by striking 2018. and inserting 2017; and ; and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. ; and in paragraph (5)— in the heading, by inserting before technical assistance and ; and administrative expenses by inserting to provide technical assistance or before for administrative expenses . Section 4402(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 3007(a) ) is amended to read as follows: Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out and expand a seniors and veterans farmers’ market nutrition program at least $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. Of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year— 70 percent of the funds shall be used for the benefit of program recipients who are low-income seniors; and 30 percent of the funds shall be used for the benefit of program recipients who are low-income veterans. . Section 4402(b)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 3007(b)(1) ) is amended— by inserting , minimally processed after unprepared ; and by inserting and low-income veterans after low-income seniors . Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 3007 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: To the extent the funds made available under subsection
(a)for a fiscal year are not expended in that fiscal year, the Secretary shall use such funds in a subsequent fiscal year for the same purpose. In providing funds made available under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to farmers’ markets that have an operational seniors and veterans farmers’ market program and to seniors and veterans farmers’ market programs in historically underserved communities as defined in section 4(d) of the Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2017. In this section: The term low income shall have the meaning determined by the Secretary and shall be applied equally with respect to seniors and veterans. The term minimally processed means, with respect to a product, processing that does not fundamentally alter such product. The term veteran means an individual who has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(10) of title 38, United States Code). . Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 3007 ) is amended by inserting and veterans after seniors each place it appears in the section heading and in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (f). Section 25 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2034 ) is amended— by amending subsection (a)(1) to read as follows: The term community food project means a community-based project that is designed— to— meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in nutrition programs that receive Federal funding, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service; increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and promote comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues; or to meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to— equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project; planning for long-term solutions; or the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers. ; and in subsection (b)(2)(C), by striking $9,000,000 and inserting $10,000,000 . With respect to the community facilities direct loan and grant program, the Secretary shall include urban farmers, producers, or ranchers as eligible entities for purposes of— loans under subpart A of part 1942 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations; and grants under subpart B of part 3570 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations.
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- 7 USC 3005
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