An Act establishing the Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant Program, the Keystone Producer Grant Program, the Keystone Assistance Grant Program and the Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture.
What changed between versions
Replaced the 'Keystone Fresh Fund' with the 'Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account' within the General Fund, removing mandatory percentage allocations for grants and evaluation.
Expanded eligibility for the Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant Program to include private schools and charter schools, not just public school districts.
Added a new definition for 'Institution of Higher Education' to include specific universities and state-related institutions.
Modified the definition of 'New and beginning farmer or rancher' to clarify that legal entities must have owners with 10 years or less of experience.
Updated the definition of 'Veteran farmer or rancher' to allow legal entities to qualify if all individual members independently meet the service criteria.
Clarified the definition of 'Minimally processed products' to explicitly list specific processing methods and exclude fully cooked or canned items.
Added a new requirement for the Department of Education to establish a farm-to-school website with specific sections for operators, producers, and community members.
Changed the effective date structure, with the new Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant Program taking effect immediately rather than after a waiting period.
