I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4710 
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to award 
grants to eligible entities for farm to school programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2010 
Mr. HOLT (for himself, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. BOYD, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. 
ELLISON, and Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act to award grants to eligible entities for farm to school 
programs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Farm to School Im-
provements Act of 2010’’. 
SEC. 2. FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—The Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) is amended 
by inserting after section 19, the following: 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 19A. FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide as-
sistance, through competitive matching grants and tech-
nical assistance, to eligible entities for farm to school pro-
grams that— 
‘‘(1) improve access to local foods in schools 
and institutions participating in programs under this 
Act and section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
(42 U.S.C. 1773) through farm to school activities, 
including the purchase of local food, establishment 
of effective relationships between school and institu-
tional food service providers, distributors, and pro-
ducers or groups of producers, school gardens, ap-
propriate equipment, and the provision of training 
and education; and 
‘‘(2) are designed to— 
‘‘(A) improve the nutritional health and 
well being of children; 
‘‘(B) procure healthy local foods from 
small and medium-sized farms for meals at eli-
gible schools and institutions; 
‘‘(C) support experiential nutrition edu-
cation activities and curriculum planning that 
incorporates the participation of school children 
in farm and garden-based agricultural edu-
cation activities; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(D) develop a sustained commitment to 
farm to school programs in the community by 
linking schools and institutions, State and local 
agencies including Indian Tribal Organizations, 
institutions of higher education, agricultural 
producers, parents, community garden groups 
and other community stakeholders; and 
‘‘(E) increase farm income by facilitating 
farmers’ access to institutional markets includ-
ing schools. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible entity’ means— 
‘‘(1) a school; 
‘‘(2) nonprofit organization; or 
‘‘(3) other entity that the Secretary determines 
offers a unique ability to provide services or farm- 
to-school programs. 
‘‘(c) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) TYPES
OF
GRANTS.—A grant awarded 
under this section may include— 
‘‘(A) an implementation grant to support 
the cost of implementing a farm to school pro-
gram; 
‘‘(B) a training and technical assistance 
grant to support the cost of— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) providing the training, oper-
ational support, information, and access to 
resources necessary to implement a suc-
cessful farm to school program; and 
‘‘(ii) encouraging collaboration be-
tween public and private entities; or 
‘‘(C) a planning grant to support the cost 
of conducting research, identifying resources, 
and developing partnerships to design a suc-
cessful and sustainable farm to school program. 
‘‘(2) GRANT
AMOUNTS.—A grant awarded 
under this section to an eligible entity shall not ex-
ceed— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an implementation or 
training 
and 
technical 
assistance 
grant, 
$100,000; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a planning grant, 
$25,000. 
‘‘(3) GRANT DURATION.—A grant under this 
section shall be awarded for a period— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an implementation or 
training and technical assistance grant, not to 
exceed 2 years; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a planning grant, not 
to exceed 1 year. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(d) COST SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amount of a grant 
made under this section shall not exceed 75 percent 
of the cost of the proposed grant activities. 
‘‘(2) NON-FEDERAL SUPPORT.—A recipient of a 
grant under this section shall be required to provide 
at least 25 percent of the cost of the proposed grant 
activities in the form of cash or in-kind contributions 
(including facilities, equipment, training, or services 
provided by State and local governments and private 
sources). 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION.—A recipient of a grant under this 
section shall cooperate in an evaluation by the Secretary 
of the programs carried out using such grant funds. 
‘‘(f) REGIONAL BALANCE.—In making awards and 
providing technical assistance under this section, the Sec-
retary shall to the maximum extent practicable, ensure— 
‘‘(1) geographical diversity; and 
‘‘(2) equitable treatment of urban, rural, and 
tribal communities. 
‘‘(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide recipients of grants under this section with tech-
nical assistance, which shall include sharing information, 
best practices, research, and data on existing farm to 
school programs. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(h) PROPOSALS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity desiring 
to receive a grant under this section shall submit a 
proposal to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(2) COMPETITIVE
AWARD
SELECTION.—The 
Secretary shall form review panels to evaluate pro-
posals submitted under paragraph (1) based on the 
criteria described in paragraph (3). Such review 
panels shall include— 
‘‘(A) representatives of schools and eligible 
institutions; 
‘‘(B) registered dietitians; 
‘‘(C) operators of small and medium-sized 
farms; 
‘‘(D) public agencies; 
‘‘(E) non-governmental and community- 
based organizations with expertise in local food 
systems and farm to school programs; and 
‘‘(F) other appropriate parties as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) PROPOSAL REVIEW CRITERIA.—In making 
awards under this section, the Secretary shall evalu-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
ate proposals based on the extent to which the pro-
posed program— 
‘‘(A) improves the nutritional health and 
well being of children; 
‘‘(B) makes local food products available 
on the menu of the school or institution; 
‘‘(C) benefits local small and medium-sized 
farms; 
‘‘(D) incorporates experiential nutrition 
education activities and curriculum planning 
that incorporates the participation of school 
children in farm and garden-based agricultural 
education activities; 
‘‘(E) serves schools and eligible institutions 
with a high proportion of children who are eligi-
ble for free and reduced price lunches; 
‘‘(F) demonstrates collaboration between 
schools or institutions, non-governmental and 
community-based organizations, farmer groups, 
and other community partners; 
‘‘(G) demonstrates the potential for long- 
term program sustainability; 
‘‘(H) includes adequate and participatory 
evaluation plans; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(I) meets such other related criteria as 
the Secretary may determine relevant. 
‘‘(i) FUNDING.—Beginning on October 1, 2010, or of 
any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the 
Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary 
of Agriculture to carry out this section $10,000,000 each 
fiscal year, to remain available until expended.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING CHANGE.—Section 18(g) of the 
Richard B. Russell School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2); and 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
22:36 Feb 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4710.IH
H4710
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS