Bill > A3494

Introduced Session

The bill establishes the State as a buyer of last resort of unsold produce. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish and implement, in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH), a program for the purchase by the State of unsold produce from farmers and the distribution of the purchased produce to food banks, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, adult day care centers, veterans organizations, and any other appropriate nonprofit recipients that provide food or meals to the public. The DOA would purchase the produce for a reasonable market price, as determined by the department, from a participating farmer who has been unable to sell the produce in a timely manner to any other outlet or purchaser, and provide for its distribution to recipients participating in the program. The DOA would ensure compliance with any DOH rules, regulations, or guidelines concerning the purchase and distribution of food which the DOH determines to be relevant for the program. Finally, the DOA is required to adopt any regulations necessary to implement the program and to include in its annual budget request a request for funds sufficient to implement the program and provide for the purchases and distribution thereof through the program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Alex Sauickie (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 02/05/2024)

Official Document