HF 4471

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/14/2024 04:02pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; appropriating money for a grant to the Good Acre for the
Local Emergency Assistance Farmer Fund program to assist emerging farmers.

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

Section 1. new text begin THE GOOD ACRE'S LEAFF PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of agriculture for a grant to The Good Acre for the Local Emergency Assistance Farmer
Fund (LEAFF) program, a strategic wholesale readiness program for emerging farmers in
Minnesota, for the purposes of: (1) providing emerging farmers with technical assistance
related to food safety, delivery, quality standards, and packaging requirements; (2) supporting
the expansion of the LEAFF program to areas of greater Minnesota and increasing emerging
farmers' access to the program; and (3) purchasing produce from emerging farmers in the
program. The base for this appropriation is $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and thereafter.
new text end

new text begin (b) The LEAFF program must donate produce purchased through the program to hunger
relief partners, including but not limited to The Food Group.
new text end