SB 926 - The act creates the Local Foods Initiative. Under the Initiative, the Department of Agriculture must administer the Farm Fresh Schools Program, a local foods certification program, and a community garden grant program, all created by the act. Additionally under the Initiative, the department must collaborate with the AgriMissouri program, assist small farmers and small agribusinesses market their locally-produced food products, and promote Agritourism. Under the Farm Fresh Schools Program, the department must assist
schools in procuring food items from local and regional farmers and work with schools to develop their own school gardens.
The department must create a certification program to designate small farmers and small agribusinesses who meet the criteria to be considered a local food producer. Anyone found falsely claiming to be certified under this program shall be subject to a $500 penalty for a first offense and $1,000 for a subsequent offense.
The department must administer competitively-awarded grants to establish and educate the public about community gardens. The department is required to set up the eligibility criteria, application procedures, and rules of the grant program.
The act creates a subaccount within the AgriMissouri Fund for any funding appropriated for the Local Foods Initiative.
ERIKA JAQUES