S. 2415 Summary

• Renames the "Office of Community Gardens" to the "Office of Urban Agriculture" and expands its scope to include urban farms, farmers markets, community supported agriculture, and other agricultural structures in urban areas.

• Adds definitions for urban agriculture, urban farming, community supported agriculture partnerships, and community-owned grocery stores to the Agriculture and Markets Law.

• Requires the office to maintain a comprehensive list of vacant public land suitable for urban agriculture, develop standardized application forms, and facilitate leases of at least five years for urban farms and entrepreneurial agriculture ventures.

• Restructures the Urban Agriculture Task Force to nine members appointed by state officials and governor, with expertise in urban agriculture, food insecurity, and community needs, requiring one report to the legislature and governor within 16 months.

• Establishes a new department website with an interactive map displaying vacant public and private land available for urban agriculture, searchable by location and updated monthly.