Missouri § 262.960 - Citation of law — program created, purpose — agencies to make staff available — duties of department.

§ 262.960. Citation of law — program created, purpose — agencies to make staff available — duties of department.

1.  This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Farm-to-Table Act".

2.  There is hereby created within the department of agriculture the "Farm-to-Table Program" to connect Missouri farmers and institutions in order to provide institutions with locally grown agricultural products for inclusion in meals and snacks and to strengthen local farming economies.  The department shall establish guidelines for voluntary participation and parameters for program goals, which shall include, but not be limited to, participating institutions purchasing at least ten percent of their food products locally by December 31, 2019.  The department shall designate an employee to administer and monitor the farm-to-table program and to serve as liaison between Missouri farmers and institutions.  Nothing in this section, nor the guidelines developed by the department, shall require an institution to participate in the farm-to-table program.

3.  The following agencies shall make staff available to the Missouri farm-to-table program for the purpose of providing professional consultation and staff support to assist the implementation of this section:

(1)  The department of health and senior services;

(2)  The department of elementary and secondary education;

(3)  The office of administration; and

(4)  The department of corrections.

4.  The duties of the department employee coordinating the farm-to-table program shall include, but not be limited to:

(1)  Establishing and maintaining a website database to allow farmers and institutions to connect whereby farmers can enter the locally grown agricultural products they produce along with pricing information, the times such products are available, and where they are willing to distribute such products;

(2)  Providing leadership at the state level to encourage institutions to procure and use locally grown agricultural products;

(3)  Conducting workshops and training sessions and providing technical assistance to institution food service directors, personnel, farmers, and produce distributors and processors regarding the farm-to-table program; and

(4)  Seeking grants, private donations, or other funding sources to support the farm-to-table program.

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(L. 2014 S.B. 672 merged with S.B. 701, A.L. 2016 S.B. 665)

---- end of effective  28 Aug 2016 ----

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