Farm to Food Bank Act of 2018

To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to establish in each State a network between agricultural producers and food banks to provide food to the needy and reduce food waste, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Farm to Food Bank Act of 2018 2. Farm to food bank program The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 is amended by inserting after section 4405 ( 7 U.S.C. 7517 4406. Farm to food bank program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agricultural cooperative The term agricultural cooperative section 521(b)(1) (2) Agricultural producer The term agricultural producer (A) an agricultural cooperative; (B) a person engaged in farming, ranching, or aquaculture; (C) a person engaged in the packing of a food product; and (D) a person engaged in the minimal processing of a food product, as determined by the Secretary. (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity section 501(c)(3) (A) is— (i) a food bank; (ii) an association of food banks; or (iii) a food assistance network; and (B) has the expertise and infrastructure to source, aggregate, transport, and distribute an eligible product to individuals in need in the State or region in which the eligible entity is located. (4) Eligible product The term eligible product (A) that is— (i) a fruit, vegetable, grain, meat (including poultry and nonamenable species), egg, seafood, legume, nut, seed, or dairy product; (ii) grown or produced in the United States; (iii) fresh or minimally processed, as determined by the Secretary, taking into account— (I) distribution needs; (II) food storage availability; and (III) the availability of that food product in a State or region; and (iv) safe for consumption; and (B) (i) for which there is limited access to a retail market or supply chain; (ii) that has been grown or otherwise produced for the purpose of donation; or (iii) that has been gleaned. (5) Farm to food bank program The term farm to food bank program (6) Glean The term glean (7) Region The term region (A) one or more States; or (B) one or more localities within a State. (8) State The term State (A) a State; (B) the District of Columbia; (C) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 (D) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (E) any other territory or possession of the United States. (b) Program purposes The purposes of this section are— (1) to reduce food waste through gleaning; (2) to promote food recovery at the agricultural production level; (3) to provide food to individuals in need; and (4) to build relationships between agricultural producers and eligible entities through the donation of food. (c) Establishment (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall allocate funding to a State to support the establishment and administration of a farm to food bank program in that State. (2) State opt-in (A) In general The Secretary shall allocate funding to a State under paragraph (1) if that State— (i) opts in to participate in the program; and (ii) demonstrates an ability to participate in the program, as determined by the Secretary. (B) State plan To receive funding under paragraph (1), a State shall submit to the Secretary an operation and administration plan for a farm to food bank program in that State, which shall include a description of the State agency and the eligible entity that the State shall partner with under subsection (d)(2)(A). (3) Technical assistance (A) In general Under the program described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide technical assistance and training relating to establishing and administering a farm to food bank program (including training relating to safe food handling) to a State or eligible entity on the request of that State or eligible entity. (B) Coordination In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs as the Secretary determines is necessary. (d) State implementation (1) In general A State that receives funds under subsection (c)(1)— (A) shall establish and administer a farm to food bank program in the State; and (B) may establish and administer a regional farm to food bank program with a neighboring State that receives funds under subsection (c)(1). (2) Partnership with eligible entity (A) In general To carry out paragraph (1), a State shall partner with an eligible entity— (i) that is selected under subparagraph (B); and (ii) for the purpose of— (I) jointly establishing and administering a farm to food bank program in the State; or (II) overseeing the establishment and administration of a farm to food bank program in the State by that eligible entity. (B) Selection of eligible entity A State shall select an eligible entity as a partner under subparagraph (A) by— (i) issuing a request for proposals from eligible entities located in the State or region, as applicable; and (ii) selecting the winning eligible entity based on criteria determined by the Secretary under subparagraph (C). (C) Criteria for selection The Secretary shall establish criteria for the selection of an eligible entity under subparagraph (B) that shall include the requirement that the winning eligible entity— (i) is audited for food safety by an independent third party; and (ii) donates food to individuals in need. (3) Priority of eligible products In carrying out paragraph (1)(A), a State shall prioritize eligible products that are fresh and primarily produced in the State or region, as applicable. (4) Use of funds (A) Reimbursement for costs In carrying out paragraph (1), a State may reimburse an agricultural producer or an eligible entity, as appropriate, participating in a farm to food bank program for eligible costs, as determined by the Secretary, including the cost of— (i) producing an eligible product that is a dairy product; (ii) harvesting an eligible product; (iii) storing an eligible product; (iv) minimally processing an eligible product; (v) packing an eligible product; and (vi) transporting an eligible product to an eligible entity. (B) Formula A State that receives funds under subsection (c)(1) shall distribute funds to eligible entities participating in a farm to food bank program in the State according to a formula— (i) determined by the State in consultation with the eligible entity partnering with that State; or (ii) described in section 251.3(h) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this section). (e) Funding (1) Allocation of funds In carrying out subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall allocate funding to each State— (A) according to the formula described in section 251.3(h) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this section); and (B) on a 2-year basis. (2) Administrative funds Of the funding allocated to each State under paragraph (1), not more than 10 percent may be used for administrative costs. (3) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. . 3. Crop insurance Section 508(a) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1508(a) (11) Food donation as alternative use (A) Definition of donate In this paragraph, the term donate (B) Effect on crop insurance The Corporation shall establish a procedure under which an insured crop that is donated by a producer does not qualify as a produced crop under a crop insurance claim. . 4. Study on food waste (a) Definition of food waste In this section, the term food waste (1) on the farm and ranch production level; and (2) before and after the harvest period. (b) Study The Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall conduct a study to evaluate and determine— (1) methods of measuring food waste; (2) standards for the volume of food waste; and (3) causal factors for food waste. (c) Initial Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit a report that describes the results of the study conducted under subsection (b) to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. (d) Annual report Not later than 1 year after the date of submission of the report under subsection (c), and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes— (1) food waste during the 1-year period ending on the date of submission of the report under this subsection; and (2) the methods that the Secretary shall implement to reduce food waste.

Summary: Farm to Food Bank Act of 2018 This bill amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a program to allocate funding to states to support the establishment and administration of farm to food bank programs. A "farm to food bank program" is a program under which agricultural producers donate food products to a food bank, an association of food banks, or a food assistance network for free distribution to individuals in need. The bill also amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to establish a procedure under which an insured crop that is donated by a producer does not qualify as a produced crop under a crop insurance claim. USDA must coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study to evaluate and determine methods of measuring food waste, standards for the volume of food waste, and causal factors for food waste.