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Subcommittee OKs bill to enshrine Farm to School program in state law
Summary
AB 675 would codify California's Farm to School program at the state level to provide continuity and help schools buy locally produced food. The Assembly Agriculture subcommittee advanced the bill unanimously to Appropriations (8-0).
AB 675, a bill to codify and secure California’s Farm to School program in state statute, passed the Assembly Agriculture subcommittee and was ordered to the Appropriations Committee by unanimous vote.
Majority Leader Agier Curry, the bill’s author, said AB 675 would put the Farm to School program into statute to provide stability beyond annual budget allocations and to help sustain long-term relationships between schools and local farmers. Curry said the program reaches nearly half of California students and helps funnel state and federal meal funds to local producers.
Witnesses described program benefits. Abby Halperin of the Center for Ecoliteracy said farm-to-school efforts reach high-need schools and support farmers pursuing climate-smart practices. Claire Talbert of Community Alliance with Family Farmers noted that the state program and local networks bridge logistical gaps between school food-service procurement and small-scale producers.
Supporters including NextGen California, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and American Farmland Trust registered on the record; no committee opposition was recorded. Committee members praised the program’s educational and economic benefits for students and small farmers.
The roll call recorded eight votes in favor and none opposed; the bill now goes to Appropriations. The author said codifying the program will protect existing investments and help sustain markets for local farms supplying school meals.
