FL H0399

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, subject to legislative appropriation, must implement a pilot program to incentivize agricultural companies to sell USDA grade 1 fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, and dairy to food recovery entities, with a goal of 100 million pounds sold annually.

Eligible food recovery entities must be nonprofit associations operating in Florida for at least 10 years and receiving a minimum of 10 million pounds of perishable fresh food products annually for at least 3 years.

Food recovery entities may negotiate discounted prices with agricultural companies and reimburse them for harvesting, precooling, packaging, and delivery costs, with a default 7-day harvest ship window that may be extended on a case-by-case basis.

The department must reimburse food recovery entities on a dollar-for-dollar basis for discounted fresh food purchases plus 10 cents per box for distribution, upon submission of detailed invoices including harvest dates, shipment information, and pricing.

The department must submit a report with legislative recommendations to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker by January 1, 2024, and adopt rules to implement the program, with an effective date of July 1, 2023.