MA H565

Establishes a Massachusetts Farm to School Program administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, consisting of a grant program and local food incentive to support schools and licensed childcare programs in purchasing locally-sourced ingredients from Massachusetts, New England, and New York

Creates a reimbursement structure paying $1 for every $2 spent on Massachusetts-sourced products and $1 for every $3 spent on regional products from New England or New York, with eligible purchases including direct buys from farms, fishers, cooperatives, food hubs, and distributors

Provides grants for kitchen equipment, staff training in preparing fresh local meals, educator training on food system curriculum, farm field trips, school gardens, and indoor growing systems

Requires a full-time program coordinator and advisory committee including representatives from the Department of Agricultural Resources, Department of Early Education and Care, Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Farm to School, and the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts

Mandates annual reporting to the legislature by January 31 on program impacts, including number of students served, school gardens created, value of food purchased, and participating farms and producers