PETITION OF:

Chapter 20 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 6C the following section:-

Section 6D. There is established within the Department of Agricultural Resources a Massachusetts Food Policy Council, hereinafter referred to as the council, which shall not be subject to the control of the department except as provided in this section. The purpose of the council shall be to enhance the state’s agricultural economy and improve the nutritional health of the commonwealth’s citizens by promoting and expanding the availability of fresh, healthy, and locally produced foods, and creating a comprehensive food policy for the commonwealth. The council shall review existing state and local programs and policies and make recommendations to strengthen our farms, reduce hunger, increase food security, improve nutrition among seniors, low income populations, and school children, and improve coordination among state and local agencies and their programs. Efforts of the council shall include, but not be limited to, the preservation of agricultural lands and increasing farm viability and business opportunities for farmers; supporting and strengthening farmer’s markets, community supported agriculture farms (CSA’s), and agricultural marketing cooperatives; increasing public awareness of the value of fresh, healthy, locally grown foods and their importance in improving nutrition and health; increasing the use of locally grown food products in public institutions; promoting farm-to-school programs; promoting increased use of locally grown foods through agricultural tourism programs; supporting fisheries and aquaculture businesses as an important regional food source; working with wholesale and retail food distributors to increase the availability of locally grown food products throughout the commonwealth; encouraging financial institutions and public finance agencies to support the businesses and organizations which work to build a sustainable infrastructure for increasing the use of food grown and produced in the commonwealth.

The council shall consist of twenty-one members who shall be the chief executive officer or their designees of the following agencies: the Department of Agricultural Resources, who shall serve as chair of the council; the Department of Public Health; the Department of Education; MassDevelopment; and the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The Governor of the Commonwealth shall also appoint the following public members of the council from these organizations: Project Bread; a food bank; Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA); Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP); The Food Project; American Farmland Trust; Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation; a farmer’s cooperative; a produce wholesaler; a produce retailer; a state or local procurement officer with expertise in the procurement of locally grown foods; an association of farmer’s markets; a state public health association; an urban health department addressing obesity and nutrition issues; a person engaged in the study or business of fishing or aquaculture; a school of nutrition. Of the members first appointed hereunder 4 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 3 or a term of 2 years, 3 for a term of 3 years , 3 for a term of 4 years and 3 for a term of 5 years. Upon expiration of the term of an appointed member, his successor shall be appointed in a like manner for a term of 5 years.

The council shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the chair or a majority of the council, but shall not meet less frequently than eight times a year. The commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources shall appoint personnel necessary to coordinate the activities of the council, and to provide administrative support to the council, as requested. The council shall: (1) develop, coordinate and implement a state food system policy linking promotion of good nutrition, access to affordable, healthy, locally grown food, local economic development, environmental protection and preservation with farming and urban issues; (2) make recommendations regarding any state legislation and regulations that would effect the food policy system of the commonwealth in light of the goals of the council; and (3) prepare and submit an annual progress report to the Governor, the joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and the joint Committee on Public Health, concerning its activities with any appropriate recommendation concerning food policy and related programs.