Kids Eat Local Act

Kids Eat Local Act

This bill modifies Department of Agriculture requirements for the national school food programs relating to the purchases of locally produced food.

The bill allows institutions participating in the school food programs to use locally grown, locally raised, or locally caught as a product specification in food procurement requests.

The Kids Eat Local Act, also known as Bill 117 hr 2896, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to promote the consumption of locally grown and produced foods in schools across the country.

If passed, the Kids Eat Local Act would require schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to purchase at least 10% of their food from local sources. This would help support local farmers and food producers, as well as provide students with fresher, healthier meal options.

Additionally, the bill would provide funding and resources to help schools establish relationships with local farmers and food producers, making it easier for them to source their ingredients locally. This would not only benefit the local economy, but also help reduce the carbon footprint of school meal programs by decreasing the distance that food needs to travel to reach students. Overall, the Kids Eat Local Act aims to improve the quality of school meals, support local agriculture, and promote sustainability in the food system. It is currently being debated in Congress, and its passage could have a significant impact on the way schools across the country source and serve food to their students.