NJ S1083

School meal service providers receiving federal or state funding for local food procurement must give geographic preference to foods grown or produced within 100 miles of the destination school

Within that 100-mile radius, additional preference must be given to New Jersey in-state farmers and food producers over out-of-state producers

Contracts between school food authorities and food service management companies must include provisions requiring compliance with these geographic preference requirements

School food authorities and contracted vendors must maintain records demonstrating compliance with the geographic preference requirements and submit documentation regularly to the Department of Agriculture

The bill amends existing school meal program law (P.L.2022, c.104) to add definitions for food service management companies, geographic preference requirements, and the federal Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program