Office of Farm to Fork: California Farm to School Program.

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's California Farm to School Program legislation establishes a comprehensive framework connecting California's agricultural producers with school meal programs while expanding food education opportunities for students. The Office of Farm to Fork would develop and administer the program to increase procurement of California-grown, minimally processed foods for school meals and create hands-on learning experiences through school gardens, farm visits, and culinary classes.

The bill authorizes several initiatives contingent on funding availability, including advancing a statewide farm-to-school network, facilitating relationships between local producers and school personnel, and establishing an interagency working group. The Office would also oversee a Farm to School Incubator Grant Program while coordinating with the State Departments of Education and Social Services on program development. A new Farm to School Account within the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund would receive federal, state, industry, philanthropic and private funding, with expenditures subject to legislative appropriation.

The program builds upon existing requirements for the Office of Farm to Fork to work with agricultural industry partners and food access organizations in increasing agricultural products available to underserved communities and schools. Implementation would occur through regulations adopted by the Department of Food and Agriculture, with program activities launching as funding becomes available through the newly established account.