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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 2, 2024 10:11 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Danilo Burgos and Rep. Jonathan Fritz |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Keystone Fresh Act |
| In the near future, we will introduce legislation establishing a Keystone Fresh Act to increase the quantity and variety of Pennsylvania products served in school meal programs and establish vital resources for Pennsylvania’s family farmers to participate in the school food market. Schools across Pennsylvania serve more than 157 million lunches per year, providing critical nutrients to children across the Commonwealth, and making them one of the largest potential markets for agricultural producers from across the state. Despite having a child nutrition budget of more than $729 million per year, schools self-report that they spend less than 2% of those funds on PA grown foods. Local food purchasing incentive (LFPI) legislation, like the Keystone Fresh Act, would address this problem by establishing a grant program incentivizing schools to purchase, promote and serve local foods in their meal programs. Similar LFPI programs in 16 other states have been an effective and innovative strategy, increasing the quantity of local foods served in school meals and creating an essential market for farmers. Research has shown LFPI programs generate a local multiplier effect of 1.4 for every dollar spent – keeping local dollars circulating in local economies. The Keystone Fresh Act will also provide Pennsylvania family farmers with more stable economic prospects and ensure that schools have access to fresh, locally sourced foods. Changing procurement practices takes technical assistance and resources, which is why the Keystone Fresh Act would also provide funding for farmers to purchase equipment or marketing materials that meet school food market needs. Additionally, it would allocate funding for technical assistance providers to offer trainings for schools, farmers, and distributors making this food systems shift. This initiative is a win-win-win scenario, fostering economic growth, improving public health outcomes, and nurturing stronger communities, all while nourishing Pennsylvania's children with the nutrition they require to thrive. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation supporting Pennsylvania’s farmers, children, and communities. |