Bills › 89th General Assembly
Providing for the agricultural commodities produced in this state, including the preparation or processing of agricultural commodities into local food, by providing for the membership of the local food and farm program council, and the local food and farm program
Topics:Agriculture
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 10, 2022
- Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary The Secretary of Agriculture would choose all members of the local food and farm program council instead of having members appointed by the governor or various associations. This new council would consist of farmers, food processors, distributors, and other professionals involved in the food industry. The program would also expand to include new ways to show the value of selling and marketing locally grown foods.1
Read the official explanation
BACKGROUND. Code chapter 267A establishes an initiative related to the production, processing, distribution, and marketing of agricultural commodities produced in this state and food products prepared or processed from those agricultural commodities in this state. The initiative is administered by a local food and farm program council (council) which is established within the department of agriculture and land stewardship (DALS) and is comprised of five members.3).4). The coordinator, with advice from the council, administers a local food and farm program (program) to improve communication and cooperation between and among farmers, food entrepreneurs, and consumers; and to foster coordination between and among government agencies and private-sector firms working on local food and farm-related issues. 5). BILL’S PROVISIONS. The secretary or secretary’s designee remains on the council but other members are replaced by persons appointed by the secretary. The membership includes four farmers engaged in producing agricultural commodities (livestock, poultry, vegetables, and fruits). The farmers must be engaged in the on-farm processing of the commodities into food products for retail sale. The membership must also include two managers of processing firms engaged in processing agricultural commodities into food products for sale to distributors on a wholesale basis, a manager of a distributor involved in the sale of food products to food establishments on a wholesale basis, three managers of food establishments distributing food products to consumers, four heads of local or regional community organizations interested in providing food services to individuals, an attorney practicing agricultural or food law, and an employee of a government entity interested in nutrition programs. Finally, the bill expands the program by allowing the coordinator in consultation with the council to demonstrate the value of processing, distributing, and marketing locally produced and processed foods.