HB2396 H ANR AM #1

Fisher 3258

The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

ARTICLE 7.  West VIRGINIA FRESH FOOD ACT.

§1-7-1.  West Virginia Fresh Food Act.

(a) Beginning July 1, 2019, all state-funded institutions that purchase fresh produce, such as schools, colleges, correctional facilities, governmental agencies and state parks, shall purchase a minimum of five percent of their fresh produce purchases from in-state producers.

(b) According to the West Virginia Farm Bureau, state schools alone currently purchase $100 million of food from out-of-state sources.

(c) Locally grown food is healthier and more beneficial to the environment than food imported from other states and other countries.

(d) This article will:

(1) Stimulate the agricultural economy of the state, especially in its economically depressed areas, allow small farmers to expand operations and act as an incentive to new people to begin farming;

(2) Encourage state-funded institutions to begin growing their own produce, thus enabling people to learn and practice agricultural techniques, as well as lowering operational costs of those institutions; and

(3) Spur self-sufficiency and economic independence of those who learn and engage in agricultural activities.

Adopted

Rejected