California § 591 - The Farm to Community Food Hub Program is hereby established for the purpose of p

§ 591. The Farm to Community Food Hub Program is hereby established for the purpose of p

(a) The Farm to Community Food Hub Program is hereby established for the purpose of piloting investments in the capital aggregation and distribution infrastructure needed to increase purchasing of local, environmentally sustainable, climate-smart, and equitably produced food by schools and other institutions, build a better food system economy, support the local farming economy, accelerate climate adaptation and resilience, and employ food system workers with fair wages and working conditions. (b) The program shall be administered by the Office of Farm to Fork in the department. In administering the program, the office shall develop and consult with a working group comprising at least seven individuals who possess expertise in the operation of food hubs and the areas described in subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, representatives of the Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education Program, housed within the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, representatives of the department’s BIPOC Producer Advisory Committee and Small-Scale Producer Advisory Committee, technical experts with experience establishing a food hub, food supply chain representatives such as producers, processors, or purchasers with expertise working with small and socially disadvantaged farms, and at least one representative with expertise in advancing food system improvements that are supportive of local food systems. (c) (1) A participant of the working group shall recuse themself from any matter involving the scoring of grant applications or directing of grant funds, if an entity for which they serve on the board of directors or in any other role intends to apply, or has applied, for a grant under the program. (2) A participant of the working group who recuses themself pursuant to paragraph (1) may still serve on the working group to provide general guidance on the formation of the program. (d) Participants of the working group shall receive a reasonable per diem allowance. (e) The working group is not subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).