Farm to School Act of 2021

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to reauthorize the farm to school program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Farm to School Act of 2021 2. Access to local foods: farm to school program Section 18(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1769(g) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through means (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Agricultural producer The term agricultural producer (B) Eligible institution The term eligible institution ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (C) Farm to school program The term farm to school program (i) benefits an eligible institution, as determined by the Secretary; and (ii) carries out— (I) planting and maintenance of farms or gardens; (II) procurement from local agricultural producers; or (III) educational activities relating to agriculture, nutrition, or food. ; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking schools institutions (B) by inserting land-grant colleges and universities, and nonprofit (C) by striking grants and technical assistance grants, technical assistance, research, and evaluation (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in clause (i), by inserting and technical assistance training (ii) by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as clauses (vii) and (viii), respectively; and (iii) by inserting after clause (v) the following: (vi) implementing educational activities relating to agriculture, nutrition, or food; ; and (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following: (C) Improved procurement and distribution (i) In general In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to improve local food procurement and distribution options for agricultural producers and eligible institutions. (ii) Aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution In advancing local food procurement options and other farm to school program objectives, the Secretary may provide funding for projects that include innovative approaches to aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution. (D) Awards (i) Maximum amount The total amount provided to a grant recipient under this subsection shall not exceed $250,000. (ii) Term The term of an award shall not exceed 3 years. (iii) Purpose and scope In making awards under this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to make awards of diverse amounts and duration in order to best match the award to the purpose and scope of the project to be funded. (E) Limitation The Secretary may not award a grant under this subsection if the grant funds would be used solely for the purpose of carrying out a conference. ; (4) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting , Tribal, State (B) by adding at the end the following: (C) Tribal agencies The Secretary may allow a Tribal agency to use funds provided to the Indian Tribe of the Tribal agency through a Federal agency (including the Indian Health Service) or any other Federal benefit to satisfy all or part of the non-Federal share described in subparagraph (A) if that use is consistent with the purpose of the funds or other Federal benefit provided. ; (5) in paragraph (5)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) and (G) as clauses (i) through (vi) and (ix), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately; (B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking To the maximum extent practicable (A) In general To the maximum extent practicable ; (C) in clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking school institution (D) in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking lunches meals (E) by striking clause (iii) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following: (iii) (I) incorporate experiential and traditional and culturally appropriate food, nutrition, or agricultural education activities in curriculum planning; and (II) serve a high proportion of children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds; ; (F) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated), by striking eligible schools partners eligible institutions, State and local agencies, Tribal organizations and agencies, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, land-grant colleges and universities, and nonprofit entities (G) in clause (vi) (as so redesignated), by striking and (H) by inserting after clause (vi) (as so redesignated) the following: (vii) expand the selection of local commodities for eligible institutions; (viii) identify and address chronic diet-related health issues of the children served by eligible institutions; and ; and (I) by adding at the end the following: (B) Tribal community projects In the case of projects serving Tribal communities, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give highest priority to projects that best utilize products, including traditional foods, from Tribal agricultural producers, as determined by the Secretary. ; (6) in paragraph (7)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (B) by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through nonprofit entities— (7) Technical assistance and research (A) In general The Secretary shall provide technical assistance, research, and information to assist eligible institutions, State and local agencies, Indian Tribal organizations, agricultural producers or agricultural producer groups, and nonprofit entities— ; (C) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)— (i) in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking and (ii) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (iv) to increase awareness of, and participation in, farm to school programs among agricultural and aquaculture producers or agricultural producer groups, including— (I) beginning farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279(a) (II) veteran farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279(a) (III) socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2003(e) ; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (B) Review (i) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Farm to School Act of 2021 (ii) Requirements In preparing the report, the Secretary shall examine— (I) the direct and indirect regulatory compliance costs affecting the production and marketing of locally or regionally produced agricultural food products to school and early childhood food programs; (II) barriers to local and regional market access for small-scale production; (III) barriers to funding projects that meet the criteria described in paragraph (5)(A); (IV) barriers to local and regional market access for Tribal farmers and ranchers; and (V) barriers to funding Tribal projects under farm to school programs. ; (7) in paragraph (8)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking $5,000,000 $15,000,000 (B) by adding at the end the following: (C) Administration Of the funds provided to the Secretary under subparagraph (A), not more than 5 percent may be used to pay administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this subsection. ; and (8) in paragraph (9), by striking 2011 through 2015 2022 through 2027

Summary: Farm to School Act of 2021 This bill modifies and expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Farm to School Program. The program currently provides grants and technical assistance to schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and nonprofit entities to improve access to local foods in schools. Among other things, the bill reauthorizes the program through FY2027; permits USDA to provide land-grant colleges and universities with grants, research, evaluation, and technical assistance under the program; expands the purposes for grants awarded under the program to include implementing educational activities relating to agriculture, nutrition, or food; requires USDA to provide technical assistance, research, and information to increase awareness of and participation in farm to school programs among agricultural producers, including beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers; directs USDA to seek to improve local food procurement and distribution options for agricultural producers and eligible institutions; authorizes USDA to fund projects that include innovative approaches to aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution; establishes new limitations on the amount and duration of grants; and limits funds that may be used for administrative costs.