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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to school food service programs; amending

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s. 1006.06, F.S.; creating the Florida Farm Fresh Schools

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Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

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Services; providing legislative intent; requiring the

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department to work with the Department of Education to

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recommend policies and rules to the State Board of

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Education relating to school food services which encourage

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schools and school districts in this state to buy fresh

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and local food; requiring the Department of Agriculture

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and Consumer Services to provide outreach services

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regarding the benefits of fresh food products from this

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state; exempting the procurement of fresh fruits and

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vegetables purchased for the Florida Farm Fresh Schools

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Program from certain bid limits pursuant to s. 287.057,

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F.S.; requiring the program to maintain compliance with

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the rules and regulations of the National School Lunch

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Program; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Subsection (6) is added to section 1006.06,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     1006.06  School food service programs.--

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     (6) The Legislature, recognizing that school children need

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nutritious food not only for healthy physical and intellectual

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development, but also to combat diseases related to poor

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nutrition and obesity, establishes the Florida Farm Fresh Schools

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Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

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Services as the lead agency for the program. The program shall:

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     (a) Require the department to work with the Department of

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Education to recommend policies and rules to the State Board of

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Education pertaining to school food services that:

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1. Encourage the patronization of products from farmers in

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this state by requiring school districts and schools to buy fresh

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and high quality foods grown in this state when feasible;

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2. Encourage and solicit farmers in this state to sell

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their products to school districts and schools in this state;

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3. Require school districts and schools to make reasonable

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efforts to select foods based on a preference for those that have

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maximum nutritional content; and

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4. Encourage school districts and schools to demonstrate a

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preference for competitively priced organic food products.

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     (b) Require the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

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Services to provide outreach, guidance, and training to

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districts, schools, school food service directors, parent and

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teacher organizations, and students about the benefits of fresh

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food products from farms in this state.

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     (c) Exempt fresh fruits and vegetables purchased as a

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result of the Florida Farm Fresh Schools Program from the

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Category Two bid limit of $25,000 in s. 287.057.

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     (d) Maintain compliance with the rules and regulations of

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the National School Lunch Program.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.