By Ky Corn
Kentucky schools now have an easier path to include local farm products into their meals after the passage of Senate Bill 5 (SB5), Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell announced.
“Studies show farm produce from a local source has more nutrients than those that have to be shipped longer distances,” Commissioner Shell said. “Healthier, more nutrient dense meals make for a child that is more focused, alert, and ready to learn. This bill helps achieve this by decreasing some of the challenges and barriers in prior procurements of local farm fresh foods.”
One of the primary goals of SB 5, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, was to put more locally grown produce into schools to benefit students’ nutrition.
During a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting this year, Commissioner Shell testified the legislation would start the process of decentralizing the current procurement system in schools so that farmers’ access to school markets can be bolstered.
The bill allows Kentucky school districts participating in USDA Child Nutrition programs greater flexibility in directly purchasing Kentucky-grown agricultural products without being subject to certain state competitive bidding laws – while still complying with all federal requirements. In some cases, the flexibility allows local farmers to compete with large conglomerates by allowing school food purchases to award contracts when the district considers the price reasonable based on prior experience, purchase history, or other relevant information.
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