Local Foods for Healthy Schools Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a permanent federal program called the Local Foods for Healthy Schools Program, which would fund the purchase of food from local farmers and distribute it to schools participating in federal meal programs like the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
• The program provides $200 million per year in guaranteed mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation, plus authorizes Congress to appropriate an additional $200 million per year, for a potential total of $400 million annually.
• Local food is defined as minimally processed agricultural products grown or produced within the same state or within a 400-mile radius of the school receiving the food. This includes products that are whole, cut, fresh, frozen, canned, or dried.
• Funding is split between an equal base allocation for each state and a proportional share based on how many students in each state receive federal school meals. States with more students in meal programs get more money.
• State agencies can reserve up to 5 percent of the funds for training, technical assistance, helping farmers pay for food safety certifications, and program oversight and administration.
• The bill requires that program funds add to existing state spending on local foods for schools rather than replace it, and mandates public reporting on how funds are spent and which producers receive money.