Source: http://ok.gov/sde/node/4098
Timestamp: 2013-12-13 12:09:08
Document Index: 632985096

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5']

Home / School Laws of Oklahoma	School Laws of Oklahoma Chapter 9 - Facilities and EquipmentArticle VIII: Farm to School Program Act
Section 1006. Oklahoma Farm to School Program. (2 O.S. § 5-60.1)
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma Farm to School Program Act”.
Section 1007. Intent of Act. (2 O.S. § 5-60.2)
1. Farm to School Programs link schools and Oklahoma farms in order to provide schools with fresh and minimally processed farm commodities for inclusion in school meals and snacks, to help children develop healthy eating habits, and to improve Oklahoma farmers’ incomes and direct access to markets; and
2. The benefits of Farm to School Programs often include activities that provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and school gardening and composting programs, and integrate nutrition and agriculture education into school curricula.
B. It is the intent of the Legislature that school districts encourage the implementation of the Oklahoma Farm to School Program, which will emphasize the purchase of locally and regionally produced foods in order to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies.
C. A successful statewide Farm to School Program will require the resources, expertise, and collaboration of a variety of state agencies, including the State Department of Education, the State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the Department of Human Services, and a nonprofit agency that has experience in Farm to School Programs.
Section 1008. Director and Staff. (2 O.S. § 5-60.3)
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Farm to School Program within the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. The Department shall employ a director to administer and monitor the programs and activities related to the Oklahoma Farm to School Program with the advice of and guidance of a nonprofit food policy council.
B. The following agencies shall make staff available to the Oklahoma Farm to School Program for the purpose of providing professional consultation and staff support to assist the implementation of this act:
1. Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food , and Forestry;
2. State Department of Health;
3. State Department of Education; and
4. Department of Human Services.
Section 1009. Duties of Director. (2 O.S. § 5-60.4)
The duties of the director shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Identifying and promoting the critical components of individual Farm to School Programs and advising the agencies on needed actions and strategies to implement the Oklahoma Farm to School Program;
2. Establishing a partnership with public and nonprofit sources to implement a public engagement campaign and establish a structure to facilitate communication between farmers and school districts;
3. Providing leadership at the state level to encourage school districts to develop and improve school nutrition plans using locally grown farm-fresh products;
4. Conducting workshops, training sessions, and technical assistance to school food services directors, personnel, farmers, and produce distributors and processors regarding the demand for and the availability of Oklahoma farm products; and
5. Seeking grants from private donations and other funding sources.
Section 1010. Farm to School Program - Website. (2 O.S. § 5-60.5)
A. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry shall establish a Farm to School Program web site for the State of Oklahoma. A direct link to the Farm to School Program web site shall be maintained on the home pages of the State of Oklahoma, the State Department of Education, and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.
B. The purpose of the Farm to School Program web sited shall be to assist schools and farmers in the coordination of fresh food procurement.
Section 1010.1. Farm to School Program - Rules. (2 O.S. § 5-60.6)
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry is authorized to promulgate rules as necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
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