Government Food Purchases: Supporting Local Farms, Workers, and Environment
This bill changes how the U.S. Department of Agriculture buys food for entities such as school food authorities and food banks. It aims to support beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers, promote worker well-being in the food sector, and encourage farming methods that mitigate climate change. The goal is to create a more resilient and sustainable food system.
Key points
The government will seek to enter into procurement contracts with beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers and the entities that support them.
The Department of Agriculture is to purchase a variety of foods supporting resilient supply chains, including organic products and those from farms ensuring animal welfare.
The bill encourages buying food from suppliers that support worker well-being, including those with collective bargaining agreements.
A new pilot program and grants will help smaller producers and entities meet government requirements, including food safety standards.
The Department of Agriculture will report on spending in specific categories and estimate greenhouse gas emissions associated with food purchases.
Introduced
Citizen Poll