S 2758 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to establish a national food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance program for agricultural producers, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

November 9, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BINGAMAN, and Mr. LEAHY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to establish a national food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance program for agricultural producers, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Growing Safe Food Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

(a) In General- Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting after section 404 (7 U.S.C. 7624) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 405. NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION, EXTENSION, OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

‘(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER GROUP- The term ‘agricultural producer group’ means a group--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the mission of which includes working on behalf of agricultural producers, grower-shippers, packers, distributors, and processors; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a majority of the membership and board of directors of which are agricultural producers, grower-shippers, packers, distributors, and processors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) BEGINNING FARMER- The term ‘beginning farmer’ means a farmer who, as determined by the Secretary--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) has not operated a farm or who has operated a farm for not more than 10 years;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) materially and substantially participates in the operation of the farm; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) provides substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) CONSERVATION SYSTEMS- The term ‘conservation systems’ means conservation practices, activities, and management measures that are based on local resource conditions and the standards and guidelines contained in the Natural Resources Conservation Service field office technical guides.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) MARKET VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS- The term ‘market value of agricultural products’ means gross income derived from--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the production of agricultural commodities and unfinished raw forestry products;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the production of livestock and products produced by, or derived from, livestock;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the production of farm-based renewable energy;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) the processing, packing, storing, and transporting of farm and forestry commodities, including renewable energy;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) the feeding, rearing, or finishing of livestock (exclusive of the cost or other basis of livestock purchased for resale); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) any other similar market activity related to farming or forestry, as determined by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) NATIONAL INTEGRATED FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE- The term ‘national integrated food safety initiative’ means the integrated research, education, and extension competitive grants program carried out under section 406.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARM- The term ‘small and medium-sized farm’ means a farm on which the market value of agricultural products, averaged over the most recent 3-year period for which data are available (including the market value generated by all of the individuals or legal entities that operate or have an ownership interest in the farm) does not exceed $1,000,000.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) SMALL FOOD PROCESSORS- The term ‘small food processor’ has the meaning given the term by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) SMALL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MERCHANT WHOLESALER- The term ‘small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesaler’ has the meaning given the term by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMER- The term ‘socially disadvantaged farmer’ has the same meaning given the term ‘socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher’ in section 355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)) with respect to a farmer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(10) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE- The term ‘sustainable agriculture’ has the meaning given the term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Establishment-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program to provide food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) owners and operators of farms;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) small food processors; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) APPLICABILITY- Food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance provided under this section shall relate only to foods under the authority of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs and not to foods under the authority of the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) INTEGRATED APPROACH- To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall carry out the program under this section in a manner that integrates food safety standards and guidance with sustainable agriculture and conservation systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that target small and medium-sized farms, small processors, and small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) COORDINATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall coordinate implementation of the program under this section with the national integrated food safety initiative.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) INTERACTION- The Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) in carrying out the program under this section, take into consideration applied research, education, and extension results obtained from the national integrated food safety initiative; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in determining the applied research agenda for the national integrated food safety initiative, take into consideration the needs articulated by the user community served by projects funded by the program under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Grants-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall make competitive grants to support training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance projects to increase understanding and implementation of food safety standards, guidance, and protocols developed under chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), including, as appropriate to the targeted customer group--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) good agricultural practices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) good handling practices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) good manufacturing practices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) produce safety standards;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) risk analysis and preventative control mechanisms,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) sanitation standard operating procedures;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) safe packaging and storage systems;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(H) recordkeeping for product sourcing and sales, including traceability standards if relevant;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) food safety audits and certification; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(J) other similar activities, as determined by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) ENCOURAGED FEATURES- The Secretary shall encourage projects carried out using grant funds under this section to include features that provide training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance in sustainable agriculture and conservation systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) ORGANIC AGRICULTURE- The Secretary may make grants under this section to projects that target farms that have, or are transitioning to, certified organic production under the national organic program established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) MAXIMUM TERM AND SIZE OF GRANT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- A grant under this section shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) have a term that is not more than 3 years; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) be in an amount that is not more than $600,000 each year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) CONSECUTIVE GRANTS- An eligible recipient may receive consecutive grants under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Grant Eligibility-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible for a grant under this section, the recipient shall be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a State cooperative extension service;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a Federal, State, local, or tribal agency;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) a nonprofit community-based or nongovernmental organization;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) an agricultural producer group;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) a collaboration of 2 of more eligible recipients described in this subsection; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) such other appropriate recipient, as determined by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) MULTISTATE PARTNERSHIPS- Grants under this section may be made for projects involving more than 1 State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Project Evaluation Criteria-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall evaluate proposals based on the extent to which the proposed project--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) demonstrates relevancy, technical merit, and achievability;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) demonstrates knowledge of the goals and requirements of chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) that are directly relevant to the proposed project;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) benefits small and medium-sized farms, small processors, and small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) reaches beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, and underserved geographic areas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) demonstrates a successful track record in training and outreach programs with the community to be served;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) includes adequate outreach plans;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) demonstrates a capacity to reach a large percentage of eligible participants in the targeted customer group;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(H) includes adequate plans for a participatory evaluation process and outcome-based reporting;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) leverages cash and in-kind contributions from State, local, and private sources;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(J) includes substantive, funded collaborations between eligible recipients, including nonprofit community-based or nongovernmental organizations and agricultural producer groups; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(K) maximizes other appropriate factors, as determined by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REGIONAL BALANCE- In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) geographic diversity; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) diversity of types of agricultural production.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Relationship to Other Programs-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION- The Secretary shall coordinate implementation of the program under this section with the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to food safety standards, guidance, and protocols developed under chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) CONSISTENCY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- Projects funded by this program shall be consistent with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) sustainable agriculture;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) conservation practices (as defined in section 1240A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1)); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) conservation activities (as defined in section 1238D of that Act (16 U.S.C. 3838d)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) ORGANIC STANDARDS- With respect to certified organic production, projects funded under this section shall be consistent with the national organic program established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Reporting Requirements- The Secretary shall require grant recipients to submit--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) annual reports; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) at the completion of the grant period, an evaluation of the project funded under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) Curriculum and Training Material Clearinghouse- The Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with any entity eligible to receive a grant under this section for the purpose of establishing a nationwide online clearinghouse of information relating to the on-farm production, harvesting, packing, transporting, and processing of safe food that makes available educational curricula and training materials and programs that further the purposes of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Technical Assistance-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may use funds made available under subsection (k) to provide technical assistance to grant recipients to further the purposes of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) TYPES- Technical assistance under paragraph (1) may--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) be in the form of a train-the-trainer program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) include or be provided by food safety extension teams of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(j) Best Practices for State Programs- Based on evaluations of projects funded under this section, the Secretary shall recommend on an iterative basis a set of best practices and models for food safety training programs for agricultural producers and small food processors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(k) Authorization for Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each fiscal year, of which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) not more than 3 percent may be used for a curriculum and training materials clearinghouse under subsection (h);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) not more than 10 percent may be used for technical assistance under subsection (i); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) not more than 4 percent may be used for administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program- Section 406(c) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626(c)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘Grants under’ and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Grants under’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) EMPHASIS- In carrying out the food safety initiative under this section, the Secretary shall emphasize integrated projects that address priority research, education, and extension needs relevant to implementing this Act and other applicable agricultural research laws, including projects that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) aid in the development and repeated improvement of food safety standards, guidance, and protocols, including produce standards and guidance;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) analyze on an iterative basis the most critical points of risk in the food system for fresh produce and other raw agricultural commodities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C)(i) determine conservation and biodiversity standards and practices that positively address food safety concerns; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) develop education and decision support tools to assist landowners with those standards and practices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) investigate methods to reduce the impact of animals of significant risk on contamination of food;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) identify low-cost, effective food safety practices for highly diversified agricultural operations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) develop decision support tools to aid in the effective implementation of whole-farm food safety plans; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) address other similar topics, as determined by the Secretary.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink