NC H603

Appropriates $340,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $330,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019 to Working Landscapes, a nonprofit organization, for a pilot program to reimburse school districts that source food from local farms.

Pilot program operates in the North Central educational region covering 15 counties: Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Wilson.

$60,000 in fiscal year 2017-2018 and $120,000 in fiscal year 2018-2019 shall be used to reimburse participating school systems for the higher costs of locally grown products.

Remaining funds in each fiscal year must be matched one-to-one with funds from Working Landscapes and used to build program infrastructure and help local farms obtain certifications required to supply school nutrition programs.

Act becomes effective July 1, 2017.