HF 2102

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 03/20/2025 04:13pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; appropriating money for the local food purchasing assistance
program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner may award grants to eligible applicants for participation in the
local food purchasing assistance grant program. Selected applicants must use grant money
to procure and distribute food to communities. When awarding grants, the commissioner
must give preference to applicants that:
new text end

new text begin (1) source 100 percent of food from Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (2) source at least 70 percent of food from farmers who are experiencing limited land
access or limited market access as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 17.133, subdivision
1; and
new text end

new text begin (3) distribute food at no cost to communities that have low supermarket access in
census-designated food deserts or low- or moderate-income areas with substantial
subpopulations, such as the aging population or people with disabilities.
new text end

new text begin (b) Eligible applicants include but are not limited to individuals, nonprofit organizations,
for-profit businesses, Tribal governments, government entities, agricultural cooperatives,
economic development organizations, and educational institutions.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of agriculture for the local food purchasing assistance grant
program under section 1.
new text end