Kennedy Announces Final Passage of Farm to School Legislation

From the Connecticut General Assembly:

HARTFORD, CT – Lunches in Connecticut school cafeteria’s may soon serve more Connecticut-grown fruits, vegetables and other products thanks to a bill introduced by Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-Branford). Senate Bill 76, An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Farm to School Program encourages boards of education to purchase food from local farmers.

“The farm-to-school program is a win-win for Connecticut’s farmers and students around the state,” said Senator Kennedy, Senate Chair of the Environment Committee. “Students in our state will be eating fresh, healthy foods produced at state farms, and local farmers will be able to sell more of their produce, helping to expand Connecticut’s agricultural economy.”

“Giving preference to locally-produced food benefits Connecticut’s farms, economy and schools. Connecticut has hundreds of farms producing fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, and a variety of animal products. Purchasing goods from these farms supports Connecticut’s farmers and the state’s multimillion dollar agriculture industry. It also ensures that students in Connecticut public schools have access to fresh, locally grown foods during the school day. We are grateful to Senator Kennedy for all he is doing to help local farmers,” said Nelson Cecarelli, owner of Cecarelli Farms in North Branford.

This bill incentivizes food service companies bidding on contracts with local boards of education to develop relationships and contracts with Connecticut farmers in order to enhance the state’s farm to school program. Local boards of education will begin giving preference to companies who purchase and serve Connecticut-grown products. This will make it advantageous for food service companies to purchase from Connecticut farms.

Now that Senate Bill 76 has passed the Senate and the House of Representatives, it moves to the desk of Governor Dannel P. Malloy and awaits his signature.