Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2018

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make a permanent program for the procurement of unprocessed fruits and vegetables to provide healthier school meals, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2018 2. Helping schools serve healthier meals Section 6(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1755(f) (1) in the heading, by striking Pilot project for procurement of unprocessed fruits and vegetables Program for procurement of domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables (2) by striking pilot project program (3) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) In general The Secretary shall carry out a program to facilitate the procurement of domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables in not fewer than 15 States receiving funds under this Act. ; (4) in paragraph (2), by inserting domestically grown unprocessed (5) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) the demonstrated ability of the States to competitively procure the domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables. ; (6) in paragraph (5)— (A) in the heading, by striking and reporting requirements , reporting requirements, and evaluations (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i), by striking and (ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (iii) the States’ assessment of the challenges and opportunities presented by the program. ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (C) Program evaluation (i) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall evaluate the impact of the program, including information on— (I) the quantity and cost of each type of unprocessed fruit and vegetable procured by each State under the program; (II) the benefit of such procurement in conducting school food service in each such State, including meeting school meal requirements; and (III) the economic impact the program has had on agricultural producers in each such State. (ii) Report Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that includes the results and an analysis of the evaluation required under clause (i). ; and (7) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Funding (A) Mandatory funding There is appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. (B) Reservation Of the funds appropriated under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, $10,000,000 shall be reserved for States selected pursuant to paragraph (1) to carry out State program administration and provide technical assistance and outreach to vendors to become certified to participate in the program under this section. (C) Minimum allotment Of the funds reserved under subparagraph (B), each State selected pursuant to paragraph (1) shall receive not less than $300,000 for each fiscal year during which such State participates in the program under this section. .

Summary: Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to make permanent, and expand to at least 15 states, the program to provide more flexibility for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to purchase domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables. The bill also provides additional mandatory funding for the program.