A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide revolving funds for the farm to school program.
Whereas, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Public Instruction, and local school districts have developed the Farm to School Program to promote the use of locally grown fruits and vegetables; and
Whereas, under the Farm to School Program, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will accept delivery of produce from farmers and make deliveries to schools; and
Whereas, under the Farm to School Program, the Department must make payment to farmers at the time of delivery and the schools will then reimburse the Department; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to be placed in a nonreverting, revolving account and used as start‑up funds for the purchase from farmers of local produce for the Farm to School Program, which funds are to be reimbursed to the Department by the schools following delivery of the produce to the schools.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.