Sec. 2. Findings and purpose
251 words·~1 min read·
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Congress finds the following: Across the United States, school food service directors of school lunch programs face very tight budgets, and many find it challenging to shift their procurement practices without additional support. One way to encourage school food service directors to procure more locally-produced and unprocessed foods is to offer reimbursements to provide financial incentives for purchases and ease the process of shifting existing procurement practices. Research suggests that providing financial incentives to school food service directors for purchasing of locally-produced and unprocessed foods, can result in an overall positive economic effect for farmers and local economies.
In one such study, Cornell University researchers found that providing an additional $0.05-per-lunch subsidy incentive to school food service directors in New York State that use local fruits or vegetables one day per week would have an overall positive economic effect for farmers and local economies. In a report on Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids and Farms State pilot program, researchers found that providing schools with up to $0.10-per-meal in incentive match funding to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans resulted in an overall positive economic effect for the State’s economy, doubling the investment of such State in the program.
The purpose of this Act is to provide incentives for school food service directors of school lunch programs to increase purchases of locally-produced and unprocessed foods from small farmers, thereby providing healthier lunches for children and creating a positive economic effect for small farmers and local economies.