‘‘(h) PRIORITIES.—In providing funds made available 
under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to 
farmers’ markets that have an operational seniors farm-
ers’ market program and to seniors farmers’ markets pro-
grams in historically underserved communities as defined 
in section 4(d) of the Urban Agriculture Production Act 
of 2016. 
‘‘(i) MINIMALLY PROCESSED DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘minimally processed’ means, with respect 
to a product, processing that does not fundamentally alter 
such product.’’. 
(d) COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS.—Section 25 of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is 
amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a)(1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECT.—The term 
‘community food project’ means a community-based 
project that is designed— 
‘‘(A) to— 
‘‘(i) meet the food needs of low-in-
come individuals through food distribution, 
community outreach to assist in participa-
tion in nutrition programs that receive 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
Federal funding, or improving access to 
food as part of a comprehensive service; 
‘‘(ii) increase the self-reliance of com-
munities in providing for the food needs of 
the communities; and 
‘‘(iii) 
promote 
comprehensive 
re-
sponses to local food, food access, farm, 
and nutrition issues; or 
‘‘(B) to meet specific State, local, or neigh-
borhood food and agricultural needs, including 
needs relating to— 
‘‘(i) equipment necessary for the effi-
cient operation of a project; 
‘‘(ii) planning for long-term solutions; 
or 
‘‘(iii) the creation of innovative mar-
keting activities that mutually benefit agri-
cultural producers and low-income con-
sumers.’’; and 
(2) 
in 
subsection 
(b)(2)(C), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$9,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,000,000’’. 
(e) COMMUNITY FACILITIES DIRECT LOAN
AND 
GRANT PROGRAM.—With respect to the community facili-
ties direct loan and grant program, the Secretary shall in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
clude urban farmers or ranchers as eligible entities for 
purposes of— 
(1) loans under subpart A of part 1942 of title 
7, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(2) grants under subpart B of part 3570 of 
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 8. IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL REPORTING. 
(a) EVALUATION OF FARMERS’ MARKETS IN CENSUS 
OF AGRICULTURE.—Section 2(a) of the Census of Agri-
culture Act of 1997 (7 U.S.C. 2204g(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) INCLUSION OF FARMERS’ MARKETS.—Ef-
fective beginning with the first census of agriculture 
conducted after the date of the enactment of this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall include as part of 
each census of agriculture— 
‘‘(A) an evaluation of the state of farmers’ 
markets in the United States, including infor-
mation regarding the size, location, operational 
capacity, and geographic dispersion of farmers’ 
markets and types of food products sold (both 
in terms of product diversity and sales loca-
tions) through farmers’ markets; and 
‘‘(B) an analysis of the economic impact of 
farmers’ markets, including the success of Fed-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
eral programs in promoting and supporting 
farmers’ markets.’’. 
(b) COORDINATED ANNUAL REPORT ON FARMERS’ 
MARKETS.—Beginning on the date that is 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and each year there-
after, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and publish 
on the website of the Department of Agriculture a report 
on the status of farmers’ markets in the United States. 
Such report shall include with respect to farmers’ markets 
in the United States for each year, the following informa-
tion: 
(1) The number of farmers’ markets. 
(2) The number of farmers’ markets established 
during such year except that for the first year a re-
port is submitted under this section, the report shall 
include the number of farmers’ markets for the five 
years immediately preceding the first reporting year. 
(3) The economic value of an average farmers’ 
market. 
(4) The type of governmental assistance pro-
vided to farmers’ markets. 
(5) The products that are typically sold at 
farmers’ markets. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(6) The number of farmers’ markets that ac-
cept as a form of payment benefits distributed 
through— 
(A) the supplemental nutrition assistance 
program established under the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); 
(B) the seniors farmers’ market nutrition 
program established under section 4402 of the 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007); 
(C) the special supplemental nutrition pro-
gram for women, infants, and children estab-
lished under section 17 of the Child Nutrition 
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); and 
(D) any other Federal or State nutrition 
assistance program as determined appropriate 
by the Secretary. 
(7) The methods through which farmers’ mar-
kets process the forms of payment described in para-
graph (6). 
(8) The average income of a farmers’ market 
operator. 
(9) The average profit of a farmers’ market op-
erator. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(10) The average expenses incurred by a farm-
ers’ market operator. 
(11) Other occupations of operators of farmers’ 
markets. 
(12) The percentage of food sold or offered for 
sale at farmers’ markets that is locally produced. 
(13) Any other information related to farmers’ 
markets in the United States that the Secretary de-
termines is important to promote and enhance the 
use of farmers’ markets in the United States. 
(c) REPORT ON STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUC-
TION IN AND AROUND URBAN AREAS.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
(and make such report publicly available electronically) on 
the status of urban agriculture. The report shall include— 
(1) with respect to urban agriculture, informa-
tion on— 
(A) the percentage and economic value of 
urban agriculture production; 
(B) the most popular type of agricultural 
activity in which individuals are engaged in 
such production; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(C) the most recent best practices for such 
production; 
(D) the type of agricultural products mar-
keted and sold through such production; and 
(E) the progress made toward strength-
ening local food systems in carrying out such 
production; 
(2) an analysis of local government regulations, 
including zoning, that have supported or could sup-
port sustainable urban agriculture; and 
(3) recommendations on how to further urban 
agriculture. 
(d) PERFORMANCE GOALS.—The Secretary shall in-
corporate promoting and enhancing urban agriculture into 
the Department of Agriculture performance goals estab-
lished in the agency performance plan under section 1115 
of title 31, United States Code, and updated in accordance 
with section 1116 of such title. 
SEC. 9. STUDY AND REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Sec-
retary of Energy shall enter into an agreement with the 
National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of tech-
nologies to advance urban agricultural including tech-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
nologies that increase input efficiency, reduce costs, and 
ensure food safety. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the com-
pletion of the study required under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall submit a report to Congress summarizing the 
findings of such study. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:24 Dec 13, 2016
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6481.IH
H6481
smartinez on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS