Section 262.962

Title XVII AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS

Chapter 262

Effective - 28 Aug 2014, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  262.962.  Definitions — task force created, mission, duties, report — expiration date. — 1.  As used in this section, section 262.960, and subsection 5 of section 348.407^*, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Locally grown agricultural products", food or fiber produced or processed by a small agribusiness or small farm;

  (2)  "Schools", includes any school in this state that maintains a food service program under the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the school;

  (3)  "Small agribusiness", a qualifying agribusiness as defined in section 348.400, and located in Missouri with gross annual sales of less than five million dollars;

  (4)  "Small farm", a family-owned farm or family farm corporation as defined in section 350.010, and located in Missouri with less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars in gross sales per year.

  2.  There is hereby created a taskforce under the AgriMissouri program established in section 261.230, which shall be known as the "Farm-to-School Taskforce".  The taskforce shall be made up of at least one representative from each of the following agencies:  the University of Missouri extension service, the department of agriculture, the department of elementary and secondary education, and the office of administration.  In addition, the director of the department of agriculture shall appoint two persons actively engaged in the practice of small agribusiness.  In addition, the director of the department of elementary and secondary education shall appoint two persons from schools within the state who direct a food service program.  One representative for the department of agriculture shall serve as the chairperson for the taskforce and shall coordinate the taskforce meetings.  The taskforce shall hold at least two meetings, but may hold more as it deems necessary to fulfill its requirements under this section.  Staff of the department of agriculture may provide administrative assistance to the taskforce if such assistance is required.

  3.  The mission of the taskforce is to provide recommendations for strategies that:

  (1)  Allow schools to more easily incorporate locally grown agricultural products into their cafeteria offerings, salad bars, and vending machines; and

  (2)  Allow schools to work with food service providers to ensure greater use of locally grown agricultural products by developing standardized language for food service contracts.

  4.  In fulfilling its mission under this section, the taskforce shall review various food service contracts of schools within the state to identify standardized language that could be included in such contracts to allow schools to more easily procure and use locally grown agricultural products.

  5.  The taskforce shall prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations and shall deliver such report to the governor, the general assembly, and to the director of each agency represented on the taskforce by no later than December 31, 2015.

  6.  In conducting its work, the taskforce may hold public meetings at which it may invite testimony from experts, or it may solicit information from any party it deems may have information relevant to its duties under this section.

  7.  This section shall expire on December 31, 2015.

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(L. 2014 S.B. 672 merged with S.B. 701)

Expires 12-31-15

*Section "348.707" appears in S.B. 701, 2014.  This section number does not exist.