I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3941 
To improve food safety, to encourage greater production of agricultural com-
modities for use in the locality in which produced, to reauthorize and 
expand Department of Agriculture support of these efforts, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 4, 2017 
Ms. PINGREE (for herself, Mr. FORTENBERRY, and Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALO-
NEY of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve food safety, to encourage greater production of 
agricultural commodities for use in the locality in which 
produced, to reauthorize and expand Department of Ag-
riculture support of these efforts, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Local Food And Regional Market Supply Act’’ or the 
‘‘Local FARMS Act’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Agricultural market development program. 
Sec. 3. Food safety outreach program. 
Sec. 4. Food safety cost-share program. 
Sec. 5. National organic certification cost-share program. 
Sec. 6. Livestock, dairy, and poultry supply chain infrastructure grants and 
loans. 
Sec. 7. Geographic preference and identification for school food. 
Sec. 8. Harvesting health program. 
Sec. 9. Extension of, expansion of, and additional funding for, seniors farmers’ 
market nutrition program. 
Sec. 10. Food and agriculture service learning program. 
SEC. 2. AGRICULTURAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to combine 
the purposes and coordinate the functions of— 
(1) the Farmers’ Market and Local Food Pro-
motion Program established under section 6 of the 
Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 
(7 U.S.C. 3005); and 
(2) the value-added agricultural product market 
development grants under section 231(b) of the Ag-
ricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 
1632a(b)). 
(b) AGRICULTURAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM.—Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 3. AGRICULTURAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) BEGINNING FARMER OR RANCHER.—The 
term ‘beginning farmer or rancher’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1991(a)). 
‘‘(2) DIRECT
PRODUCER-TO-CONSUMER
MAR-
KETING.—The term ‘direct producer-to-consumer 
marketing’ has the meaning given the term ‘direct 
marketing from farmers to consumers’ in section 3 
of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 
1976 (7 U.S.C. 3002). 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITY.—The term ‘eligible 
activity’ means an activity described in subsection 
(d)(2) that is carried out using a grant provided 
under subsection (d)(1). 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) an independent producer; 
‘‘(B) an agricultural producer group, net-
work, or association, including a community 
supported agriculture network or association; 
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‘‘(C) a farmer or rancher cooperative, 
other agricultural business entity, or majority- 
controlled producer-based business venture; 
‘‘(D) a food council; 
‘‘(E) a State or local government; 
‘‘(F) a Tribal government or Tribal gov-
ernment agency; 
‘‘(G) a nonprofit corporation; 
‘‘(H) an institution of higher education; 
‘‘(I) a public benefit corporation; 
‘‘(J) an economic development corporation; 
‘‘(K) a regional farmers’ market authority; 
and 
‘‘(L) another entity, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE
PARTNER.—The term ‘eligible 
partner’ means— 
‘‘(A) a State agency or regional authority; 
‘‘(B) a philanthropic organization; 
‘‘(C) a private corporation; 
‘‘(D) a commercial, Federal, or Farm 
Credit System lending institution; 
‘‘(E) a community development financial 
institution; and 
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‘‘(F) another entity, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(6) FAMILY FARM.—The term ‘family farm’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 231(a) of 
the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 
U.S.C. 1632a(a)). 
‘‘(7) FOOD COUNCIL.—The term ‘food council’ 
means a food policy council or food and farm system 
network that— 
‘‘(A) represents multiple organizations; 
and 
‘‘(B) addresses food and farm-related 
issues and needs within city, county, State, 
Tribal region, multicounty region, or other re-
gion designated by the food council or food sys-
tem network. 
‘‘(8) INDEPENDENT PRODUCER.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘inde-
pendent producer’ means an agricultural pro-
ducer who owns and controls the agricultural 
product produced. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘independent 
producer’ includes a legal entity solely owned 
and controlled by agricultural producers if the 
entity owns a majority ownership interest in the 
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agricultural operation of the entity and a sig-
nificant share of the agricultural product pro-
duced. 
‘‘(9) MAJORITY-CONTROLLED PRODUCER-BASED 
BUSINESS VENTURE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘majority- 
controlled producer-based business venture’ 
means a venture greater than 50 percent of the 
ownership and control of which is held by— 
‘‘(i) 1 or more independent producers; 
or 
‘‘(ii) an entity or a group of entities 
described in subparagraph (B), 100 per-
cent of the ownership and control of which 
is held by 1 or more independent pro-
ducers. 
‘‘(B) ENTITY DESCRIBED.—For purposes 
of subparagraph (A), the term ‘entity’ means— 
‘‘(i) a partnership; 
‘‘(ii) a limited liability corporation; 
‘‘(iii) a limited liability partnership; 
‘‘(iv) a corporation; and 
‘‘(v) a cooperative. 
‘‘(10) MID-TIER
VALUE
CHAIN.—The term 
‘mid-tier value chain’ has the meaning given the 
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term in section 231(a) of the Agricultural Risk Pro-
tection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(a)). 
‘‘(11) PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.—The term 
‘partnership agreement’ means an agreement en-
tered into under subsection (c). 
‘‘(12) PROGRAM.—The term ‘Program’ means 
the Agricultural Market Development Program es-
tablished under subsection (b). 
‘‘(13) REGIONAL
FOOD
CHAIN
COORDINA-
TION.—The term ‘regional food chain coordination’ 
means coordination and collaboration along the sup-
ply chain, including activities that— 
‘‘(A) identify and organize local food pro-
ducers and entrepreneurs into entities that are 
able to deliver local and regional food products 
into local markets; 
‘‘(B) provide market matchmaker services 
by identifying and connecting key stakeholders 
through referral services and other forms of 
short-term engagement; 
‘‘(C) convene stakeholders and facilitate 
relationship-building across the food value chain 
by— 
‘‘(i) engaging key stakeholders; 
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‘‘(ii) 
maintaining 
communication 
channels; and 
‘‘(iii) fostering a trusting environ-
ment; 
‘‘(D) work with supply chain members to 
build capacity through education and training 
programs for— 
‘‘(i) business development practices; 
‘‘(ii) marketing and branding; and 
‘‘(iii) other similar activities; 
‘‘(E) identify and work to remove barriers 
to the movement of local and regional food 
products into the marketplace; 
‘‘(F) increase awareness about procure-
ment requirements (such as bidding procedures 
and preferred-vender practices) that may im-
pede the ability of the food chain to access cer-
tain marketing channels; 
‘‘(G) provide technical assistance to pro-
ducers and enterprises in the preparation of 
grant and loan applications; and 
‘‘(H) coordinate with State and local gov-
ernment agencies to enhance supply chain co-
ordination and build on existing efforts to de-
velop regional food systems. 
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‘‘(14) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘Secretary’ 
means the Secretary of Agriculture. 
‘‘(15) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMER OR 
RANCHER.—The term ‘socially disadvantaged farmer 
or rancher’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)). 
‘‘(16) VALUE-ADDED
AGRICULTURAL
PROD-
UCT.—The term ‘value-added agricultural product’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 231(a) of 
the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 
U.S.C. 1632a(a)). 
‘‘(17) VETERAN FARMER OR RANCHER.—The 
term ‘veteran farmer or rancher’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 2279(e)). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a program, to be known as the ‘Agricultural Market 
Development Program’, that— 
‘‘(1) streamlines existing programs and oper-
ations to more efficiently and effectively support the 
development, coordination, and expansion of— 
‘‘(A) direct producer-to-consumer mar-
keting; 
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‘‘(B) local and regional food markets and 
enterprises; and 
‘‘(C) value-added agricultural products; 
‘‘(2) connects and cultivates regional food 
economies through public-private partnerships; 
‘‘(3) supports the development of business 
plans, feasibility studies, and strategies for local and 
regional marketing opportunities; 
‘‘(4) strengthens capacity and regional food sys-
tem development through community collaboration 
and expansion of mid-tier value chains; 
‘‘(5) improves income and economic opportuni-
ties for producers and food businesses through job 
creation and improved regional food system infra-
structure; and 
‘‘(6) simplifies the application processes and the 
reporting processes for the Program. 
‘‘(c) REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in ac-
cordance with the purposes of the Program de-
scribed in subsection (b), may enter into 1 or 
more partnership agreements to plan and de-
velop a regional food system by supporting eli-
gible activities. 
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‘‘(B) PARTIES
TO
PARTNERSHIP
AGREE-
MENTS.—The Secretary shall enter into a part-
nership agreement with— 
‘‘(i) 1 or more eligible partners; and 
‘‘(ii) 1 or more eligible entities. 
‘‘(C) GEOGRAPHIC
DIVERSITY.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall 
ensure geographic diversity in selecting partner-
ship agreements. 
‘‘(2) LENGTH OF AGREEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), a partnership agreement 
shall be for a period not longer than 5 years. 
‘‘(B) EXTENSION.—The Secretary may 
make an extension of a partnership agreement 
for a period of less than a year, if the Secretary 
determines that the extension is necessary to 
properly complete 1 or more eligible activities. 
‘‘(3) TERMS OF PARTNERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Under a partnership 
agreement, the eligible partner and the eligible 
entity shall— 
‘‘(i) determine the scope of the re-
gional food system to be developed, includ-
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ing goals, outreach objectives, and eligible 
activities to be carried out; 
‘‘(ii) determine the local, regional, 
State, multi-State, or other geographic 
area covered; 
‘‘(iii) create and conduct a feasibility 
study, implementation plan, and assess-
ment of eligible activities under the part-
nership agreement; 
‘‘(iv) conduct outreach and education 
to other eligible entities and eligible part-
ners for potential participation in the part-
nership agreement and eligible activities; 
‘‘(v) at the request of a producer or 
eligible entity desiring to participate in eli-
gible activities under the partnership 
agreement, act on behalf of the producer 
or eligible entity in applying for a grant 
under subsection (d); 
‘‘(vi) monitor, evaluate, and periodi-
cally report to the Secretary on progress 
made toward achieving the objectives of el-
igible activities under the partnership 
agreement; and 
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‘‘(vii) at the conclusion of the partner-
ship agreement, submit to the Secretary a 
report describing— 
‘‘(I) the results and effects of the 
partnership agreement; and 
‘‘(II) funds provided by an eligi-
ble partner under subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) CONTRIBUTION.—An eligible partner 
shall provide funding for a significant portion 
(as determined by the Secretary) of the total 
cost of eligible activities under the partnership 
agreement. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—One or more eligible 
partners and 1 or more eligible entities desiring 
to enter into a partnership agreement may sub-
mit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Secretary considers necessary 
to evaluate and select applications. 
‘‘(B) COMPETITIVE
PROCESS.—The Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) shall conduct a competitive proc-
ess to select applications submitted under 
subparagraph (A); 
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‘‘(ii) may assess and rank applications 
with similar purposes as a group; and 
‘‘(iii) shall make public the criteria to 
be used in evaluating applications prior to 
accepting applications. 
‘‘(C) CONTENT.—An application submitted 
to the Secretary under subparagraph (A) shall 
include a description of— 
‘‘(i) the scope of the regional food sys-
tem to be developed, including goals, out-
reach objectives, and eligible activities to 
be carried out; 
‘‘(ii) the local, regional, State, multi- 
State, or other geographic area covered; 
‘‘(iii) the projected financials and 
budget for eligible activities, including esti-
mated funded needed from the Secretary 
through grants under subsection (d); 
‘‘(iv) a list of each eligible partner and 
each eligible entity collaborating to achieve 
the objectives of the partnership agree-
ment, including the roles, responsibilities, 
capabilities, and financial contribution of 
each eligible partner and each eligible enti-
ty; and 
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