Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to support Minnesota's food shelves and other charitable organizations by funding and managing the distribution of food through a program known as the "farm to food shelf" initiative. This program is designed to ensure that essential food items reach those in need while simultaneously supporting local agricultural producers.

Main Provisions

1. Funding for Second Harvest Heartland:

   • The bill allocates $1,950,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from Minnesota’s general fund to Second Harvest Heartland, a major food bank in Minnesota. This funding is directed to support five Feeding America food banks in the state.

2. Purchasing Milk:

   • At least $850,000 each year must be used to purchase milk from Minnesota milk processors. The milk will be distributed to food shelves and charitable organizations according to a federal distribution formula.

3. Surplus Agricultural Products:

   • Funds will be used to compensate agricultural producers and processors for gathering surplus fruits, vegetables, and other commodities that might otherwise be wasted. These items will also be distributed statewide.

4. Protein Products:

   • The bill provides funds for purchasing various protein products, such as pork, poultry, beef, dry legumes, cheese, and eggs, from local producers for distribution.

5. Produce from The Good Acre:

   • An annual $500,000 is allocated for purchasing produce from The Good Acre, an organization supporting local farmers.

6. Administrative Use:

   • Second Harvest Heartland and partnering food banks can use small percentages of the funds for administrative expenses related to managing these activities.

7. Reporting Requirements:

   • Second Harvest Heartland must provide quarterly reports to the commissioner of agriculture and relevant legislative committee members detailing the expenditure of funds, the amount of food purchased, and the distribution networks.

Significant Changes

• The bill creates a more structured and financially supported system for distributing surplus agricultural products.
• Encourages local economic activity by sourcing all products from Minnesota-based processors and producers.
• Introduces regular reporting to enhance transparency and oversight regarding how funds are utilized.

Relevant Terms

Second Harvest Heartland, Minnesota food banks, Feeding America, farm to food shelf, milk processing, surplus commodities, agricultural producers, protein products, The Good Acre, food distribution, fiscal year budget, administrative expenses, quarterly reports.