A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase access to healthy food for families, to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to increase access to credit for small and new farmers, and for other purposes.

Summary: Fresh Regional Eating for Schools and Health Act of 2011 - Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (formerly known as the Food Stamp Act of 1977) regarding the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly food stamp program) to: (1) authorize pilot programs that will assist SNAP beneficiaries in meeting federal nutrition guidelines and promote innovative local projects, (2) implement smartphone and tablet technology for acceptance of electronic benefit transfers, (3) require retail stores with gross annual SNAP sales in excess of $1 million to report food purchased by program recipients to the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and (4) include qualifying online food retailers within SNAP.

Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 regarding the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children program (WIC) to: (1) implement smartphone and tablet technology for acceptance of electronic benefit transfers; and (2) permit retail stores to receive alternative program training, including through videoconferencing.

Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to permit schools to use 50% of USDA funds for agricultural commodities to purchase locally grown food for food service programs under such Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act regarding direct agricultural real estate loans to: (1) extend eligibility to a new farmer who has obtained a baccalaureate degree related to farm management (including horticulture and agricultural business management), and (2) suspend loan time limits.

Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to extend operating loan eligibility to food banks and other nonprofit hunger assistance organizations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Fresh Regional 
Eating for Schools and Health Act of 2011''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
        TITLE I--INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR FAMILIES

Sec. 101. Supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Sec. 102. Smartphone and tablet technology; qualified online retailers.
Sec. 103. Local foods.
Sec. 104. Alternative forms of training for retail stores to provide 
                            supplemental foods under WIC program.
    TITLE II--INCREASING ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR SMALL AND NEW FARMERS

Sec. 201. Loans for agricultural producers.

        TITLE I--INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR FAMILIES

SEC. 101. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Nutritional Value of Food.--Section 17(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended--
            (1) in subclause (III), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(V) provide a reasonable 
                                expectation that the nutritional value 
                                of food purchased with supplemental 
                                nutrition assistance program benefits 
                                will increase or will assist 
                                supplemental nutrition assistance 
                                program beneficiaries in meeting 
                                Federal nutrition guidelines, on the 
                                conditions that--
                                            ``(aa) in order to promote 
                                        the development of innovative 
                                        locally developed projects that 
                                        appeal to agricultural 
                                        producers, supplemental 
                                        nutrition assistance program 
                                        beneficiaries, anti-hunger 
                                        advocates, and public health 
                                        groups, a State that applies 
                                        for waivers under this 
                                        subclause shall solicit 
                                        substantial public input for a 
                                        period of not less than 90 
                                        days; and
                                            ``(bb) a waiver under this 
                                        subclause shall not reduce the 
                                        eligibility for, or amount of, 
                                        benefits available to 
                                        recipients under this Act.''.
    (b) Reporting Requirements.--Section 4 of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d) Reporting Requirements.--
            ``(1) Retail food store.--Not later than March 31 of each 
        year, the owner of any 1 or more retail food store that has 
        annual gross sales in excess of $1,000,000 resulting from the 
        sale of food in exchange for any benefits under the 
        supplemental nutrition assistance program shall prepare and 
        submit to the Secretary a report listing any food purchased by 
        any individual with any benefits under the supplemental 
        nutrition program during the previous calendar year.
            ``(2) Secretary.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
        which the report described in paragraph (1) is submitted, the 
        Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report 
        compiling the data listed in any report submitted under 
        paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 102. SMARTPHONE AND TABLET TECHNOLOGY; QUALIFIED ONLINE RETAILERS.

    (a) Smartphone and Tablet Technology.--
            (1) SNAP.--Section 7(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
        2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating the second paragraph (12) 
                (relating to interchange fees) as paragraph (13); and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) Smartphone and tablet technology.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary, 
                in consultation with organizations representing the 
                electronics payments industry, shall issue 
                recommendations to States on the use and implementation 
                of smartphone and tablet technology for acceptance of 
                electronic benefit transfers under the supplemental 
                nutrition assistance program.
                    ``(B) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days 
                after the date of issuance of recommendations under 
                subparagraph (A) or as of the date of the next 
                electronic benefit transfer contract renewal of the 
                State, as a condition of participation in the program, 
                each State shall ensure that the prime contractors of 
                the State responsible for electronic benefit transfer 
                services and training shall make such modifications as 
                are necessary to implement smartphone and tablet 
                technology for acceptance of electronic benefit 
                transfers under the supplemental nutrition assistance 
                program in that State.''.
            (2) WIC.--Section 17(h)(12) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(12)) is amended by adding at the end 
        the following:
                    ``(H) Smartphone and tablet technology.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 90 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary shall issue 
                        recommendations to State agencies on the use 
                        and implementation of smartphone and tablet 
                        technology for acceptance of electronic benefit 
                        transfers under the program.
                            ``(ii) Implementation.--Not later than 180 
                        days after the date of issuance of 
                        recommendations under clause (i), as a 
                        condition of participation in the program, each 
                        State agency shall ensure that the prime 
                        contractors of the State responsible for 
                        electronic benefit transfer services and 
                        training shall make such modifications as are 
                        necessary to implement smartphone and tablet 
                        technology for acceptance of electronic benefit 
                        transfers under the program in that State.''.
    (b) Qualified Online Retailers.--Section 3(p) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(p)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) an online food retailer that meets the requirements 
        described in paragraph (1), except that benefits under the 
        supplemental nutrition assistance program may not be used to 
        pay for any delivery fees from the online food retailer.''.

SEC. 103. LOCAL FOODS.

    Section 6 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1755) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Local Foods.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this section or other law, of the funds made available to the 
        Secretary during a fiscal year for direct expenditure by the 
        Secretary for agricultural commodities and other foods to be 
        distributed under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
        (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) (other than funds made available under 
        section 10603 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
        2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c-4) or section 4404 of the Food, 
        Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 612c-5)), the 
        Secretary shall make available 50 percent of those funds each 
        fiscal year to schools and school food authorities 
        participating in the food service programs under this Act and 
        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) to 
        purchase directly local foods for use in the food service 
        programs.
            ``(2) Impact on specialty crops.--If the Secretary 
        determines that the requirement under paragraph (1) is 
        negatively impacting the purchase of specialty crops for 
        distribution under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
        (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), the Secretary may require that 
        schools and school food authorities, as a condition on the 
        receipt of funds under paragraph (1), use the funds to purchase 
        local specialty crops.''.

SEC. 104. ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRAINING FOR RETAIL STORES TO PROVIDE 
              SUPPLEMENTAL FOODS UNDER WIC PROGRAM.

    Section 17(f)(1)(C) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(f)(1)(C)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (x), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon 
        at the end;
            (2) by redesignating clause (xi) as clause (xii); and
            (3) by inserting after clause (x) the following:
            ``(xi) a plan to allow retail stores to receive alternate 
        forms of training (including through videoconferencing) from 
        the State agency to obtain authorization to provide 
        supplemental foods under the program; and''.

    TITLE II--INCREASING ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR SMALL AND NEW FARMERS

SEC. 201. LOANS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.

    (a) Direct Farm Ownership Loans.--Section 302(b) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
        ``or has obtained a baccalaureate degree related to farm 
        management (including horticulture and agricultural business 
        management)'' after ``not less than 3 years''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Suspension of limitation on period for which 
        borrowers are eligible for direct farm ownership loans.--
        Beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
        subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) and subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
        of paragraph (3) shall have no force or effect.''.
    (b) Eligibility of Food Banks and Other Nonprofit Hunger Assistance 
Organizations for Operating Loans.--Section 311(a) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941(a)) is amended by 
striking ``and limited liability companies'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``limited liability companies, and food banks and other 
nonprofit hunger assistance organizations''.
    (c) Suspension of Limitation on Period for Which Borrowers Are 
Eligible for Direct Operating Loans; Microloan Program.--Section 311(c) 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941(c)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``and (4)'' and inserting ``through (5)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Suspension of limitation on period for which 
        borrowers are eligible for direct operating loans.--Beginning 
        on the date of enactment of this paragraph, subparagraph (C) of 
        paragraph (1) shall have no force or effect.
            ``(6) Microloan program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary 
                shall establish a microloan program within the 
                operating loan program established under this subtitle.
                    ``(B) Loan amount.--Each loan issued under the 
                program shall be in an amount of not less than $500 and 
                not more than $5,000.
                    ``(C) Loan processing.--The Secretary shall process 
                any loan application submitted under the program not 
                later than 30 days after the date on which the 
                application was submitted.
                    ``(D) Expediting applications.--The Secretary shall 
                take any measure the Secretary determines necessary to 
                expedite any application submitted under the program.
                    ``(E) Paperwork reduction.--The Secretary shall 
                take measures to reduce any paperwork requirements for 
                loans under the program.''.
    (d) Suspension of Limitation on Period for Which Borrowers Are 
Eligible for Guaranteed Assistance.--Section 5102 of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1949 note; Public Law 107-
171) is amended by striking ``During the period beginning January 1, 
2002, and ending December 31, 2010,'' and inserting ``Beginning January 
1, 2002,''.