SPONSOR: Sen. Huxtable & Rep. Gray & Rep. Bush & Rep. Carson Sens. Hansen, Hoffner, Lawson, Lockman, Paradee, Townsend; Reps. Bolden, Briggs King, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Osienski, Vanderwende, Wilson-Anton, Yearick DELAWARE STATE SENATE 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 90 ENCOURAGING STATE AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE STATE TO PURCHASE DELAWARE-GROWN FOODS FROM STATE AGRICULTURE AND AQUACULTURE OPERATIONS.
SPONSOR: Sen. Huxtable & Rep. Gray & Rep. Bush & Rep. Carson Sens. Hansen, Hoffner, Lawson, Lockman, Paradee, Townsend; Reps. Bolden, Briggs King, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Osienski, Vanderwende, Wilson-Anton, Yearick
SPONSOR: Sen. Huxtable & Rep. Gray & Rep. Bush & Rep. Carson
Sens. Hansen, Hoffner, Lawson, Lockman, Paradee, Townsend; Reps. Bolden, Briggs King, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Osienski, Vanderwende, Wilson-Anton, Yearick
SPONSOR:
Sen. Huxtable & Rep. Gray & Rep. Bush & Rep. Carson
Sens. Hansen, Hoffner, Lawson, Lockman, Paradee, Townsend; Reps. Bolden, Briggs King, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Osienski, Vanderwende, Wilson-Anton, Yearick
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 90
ENCOURAGING STATE AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE STATE TO PURCHASE DELAWARE-GROWN FOODS FROM STATE AGRICULTURE AND AQUACULTURE OPERATIONS.
WHEREAS, the State of Delaware has a robust agricultural industry that produces poultry, corn, strawberries, apples, peaches, blueberries, cabbage, and value-added products; and WHEREAS, Delaware is encouraging the growth of oyster aquaculture in the States Inland Bays through the Delaware Sea Grant; and WHEREAS, agencies and businesses can contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions related to food transport by buying products locally; and WHEREAS, enhancing a locally sourced food economy provides benefits to consumers such as increased food freshness, reduction in frequency of food contamination, boosting local economies through keeping money local, and cleaner air; and WHEREAS, procuring local goods can save agencies and businesses money on transportation and shipping costs; and WHEREAS, local foods are often harvested within 24 hours of purchase, foods shipped from other states or countries might take several days or longer to arrive at a retailer. Longer transport times can result in reduced nutrient levels, health benefits, and shelf life, as well as higher shipping costs and increased emissions; and WHEREAS, a locally sourced food economy provides benefits to agriculture and aquaculture operations through preservation of farms, green space, and waterways; and WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by Downs & St. Germain Research for the State of Delaware, 80% of respondents believed it was important to buy from local growers of produce, and a Gallup Group poll determined that 73% of Americans want their food grown locally; and WHEREAS, several state agencies and Delaware businesses already procure food products from local producers and can coordinate insights and best practices to expand procurement opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture has established and promotes the Delaware Grown brand, which is a helpful tool for local producers at all levels to market their products to consumers throughout the state; and WHEREAS, state agencies, as well as schools, early care, and summer programs procure a significant amount of food products and can contribute valuable information about current local procurement levels, parameters of existing feeding programs and nutrition compliance standards, and the potential to increase buying power and relationships with Delaware producers; and WHEREAS, starting in 2022, the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy and Delaware Cooperative Extension SNAP-Education Program are working closely with retailers, community outlets, producers, agriculture organizations, and other food and agriculture partners to pilot two initiatives to increase the procurement of food products from Delaware producers and improve the availability of fresh, locally canned or frozen products in neighborhood outlets in all three counties; and WHEREAS, producers in Delaware have an interest and can manage production to supply to local outlets across the state and support efforts that bolster local processing capacities to increase year-round availability of nutrient-rich products. The States willingness to facilitate future purchases will support family farms, including the critical knowledge transfer from current producers to the next generation of producers so that food security in Delaware can be sustained; and WHEREAS, local supply chains are critical for food security and support local reliability and resilience during times of crises; and WHEREAS, local economies promote improved community relationships and cohesion. NOW, THEREFORE: BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, encourages state agencies and entities, as well as businesses and companies that operate within the State, to ensure that data about the source of food items is assessed and that there is thoughtful consideration to increase the percentage of food items that are sourced from agriculture and aquaculture operations within the state. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, no later than June 30, 2024, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, through the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, will work together with the Delaware Farm to School Program Committee, state agencies, institutions of higher education, producers, and other food and agriculture partners to draft and submit a report to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly detailing the efforts underway toward supporting and expanding a locally sourced food economy in Delaware. The report shall include: 1. A summary of the Department of Agricultures initiatives through Delaware Grown and other marketing campaigns, as well as farmers market programs to support Delaware producers. 2. A summary of existing procurement efforts; including food vendor agreements and bid requirements across state agencies, schools, early care, and summer programs, institutions, restaurants, and other entities. This includes limitations or compliance procedures that prohibit state agencies from purchasing locally. 3. Information to be used to determine the current amount of local purchasing; potential timelines for re- negotiations to increase local purchasing requirements and to detail existing procurement approaches, nutritional standards, processing limitations; and other equipment, staffing and supply chain logistics influencing local purchasing decisions. 4. A methodology to conduct surveys and gather data to determine a baseline of current local food procurement across Delaware entities and insights about how supply chain logistics may be improved to sustain increased local procurement. This data can be used to inform future target setting. 5. A recommended target percentage for local food procurement that Delaware entities can strive to achieve and Delaware producers can accommodate. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a status update of any efforts must be submitted to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly by December 31, 2024.
WHEREAS, the State of Delaware has a robust agricultural industry that produces poultry, corn, strawberries, apples, peaches, blueberries, cabbage, and value-added products; and
WHEREAS, Delaware is encouraging the growth of oyster aquaculture in the States Inland Bays through the Delaware Sea Grant; and
WHEREAS, agencies and businesses can contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions related to food transport by buying products locally; and
WHEREAS, enhancing a locally sourced food economy provides benefits to consumers such as increased food freshness, reduction in frequency of food contamination, boosting local economies through keeping money local, and cleaner air; and
WHEREAS, procuring local goods can save agencies and businesses money on transportation and shipping costs; and
WHEREAS, local foods are often harvested within 24 hours of purchase, foods shipped from other states or countries might take several days or longer to arrive at a retailer. Longer transport times can result in reduced nutrient levels, health benefits, and shelf life, as well as higher shipping costs and increased emissions; and
WHEREAS, a locally sourced food economy provides benefits to agriculture and aquaculture operations through preservation of farms, green space, and waterways; and
WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by Downs & St. Germain Research for the State of Delaware, 80% of respondents believed it was important to buy from local growers of produce, and a Gallup Group poll determined that 73% of Americans want their food grown locally; and
WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by Downs & St. Germain Research for the State of Delaware, 80% of respondents believed it was important to buy from local growers of produce, and a Gallup Group poll determined that 73% of Americans want their food grown locally; and
WHEREAS, several state agencies and Delaware businesses already procure food products from local producers
WHEREAS, several state agencies and Delaware businesses already procure food products from local producers
and can coordinate insights and best practices to expand procurement opportunities; and
and can coordinate insights and best practices to expand procurement opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture has established and promotes the Delaware Grown brand, which is a
WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture has established and promotes the Delaware Grown brand, which is a
helpful tool for local producers at all levels to market their products to consumers throughout the state; and
helpful tool for local producers at all levels to market their products to consumers throughout the state; and
WHEREAS, state agencies, as well as schools, early care, and summer programs procure a significant amount of
WHEREAS, state agencies, as well as schools, early care, and summer programs procure a significant amount of
food products and can contribute valuable information about current local procurement levels, parameters of existing feeding programs and nutrition compliance standards, and the potential to increase buying power and relationships with Delaware producers; and
food products and can contribute valuable information about current local procurement levels, parameters of existing feeding programs and nutrition compliance standards, and the potential to increase buying power and relationships with Delaware producers; and
WHEREAS, starting in 2022, the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy and Delaware Cooperative
WHEREAS, starting in 2022, the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy and Delaware Cooperative
Extension SNAP-Education Program are working closely with retailers, community outlets, producers, agriculture organizations, and other food and agriculture partners to pilot two initiatives to increase the procurement of food products from Delaware producers and improve the availability of fresh, locally canned or frozen products in neighborhood outlets in all three counties; and
Extension SNAP-Education Program are working closely with retailers, community outlets, producers, agriculture organizations, and other food and agriculture partners to pilot two initiatives to increase the procurement of food products from Delaware producers and improve the availability of fresh, locally canned or frozen products in neighborhood outlets in all three counties; and
WHEREAS, producers in Delaware have an interest and can manage production to supply to local outlets across
WHEREAS, producers in Delaware have an interest and can manage production to supply to local outlets across
the state and support efforts that bolster local processing capacities to increase year-round availability of nutrient-rich products. The States willingness to facilitate future purchases will support family farms, including the critical knowledge transfer from current producers to the next generation of producers so that food security in Delaware can be sustained; and
the state and support efforts that bolster local processing capacities to increase year-round availability of nutrient-rich products. The States willingness to facilitate future purchases will support family farms, including the critical knowledge transfer from current producers to the next generation of producers so that food security in Delaware can be sustained; and
WHEREAS, local supply chains are critical for food security and support local reliability and resilience during
WHEREAS, local supply chains are critical for food security and support local reliability and resilience during
times of crises; and
times of crises; and
WHEREAS, local economies promote improved community relationships and cohesion.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of
BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of
Representatives concurring therein, encourages state agencies and entities, as well as businesses and companies that operate within the State, to ensure that data about the source of food items is assessed and that there is thoughtful consideration to increase the percentage of food items that are sourced from agriculture and aquaculture operations within the state.
Representatives concurring therein, encourages state agencies and entities, as well as businesses and companies that operate within the State, to ensure that data about the source of food items is assessed and that there is thoughtful consideration to increase the percentage of food items that are sourced from agriculture and aquaculture operations within the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, no later than June 30, 2024, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, through the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy, will work together with the Delaware Farm to School Program Committee, state agencies, institutions of higher education, producers, and other food and agriculture partners to draft and submit a report to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly detailing the efforts underway toward supporting and expanding a locally sourced food economy in Delaware. The report shall include:
1. A summary of the Department of Agricultures initiatives through Delaware Grown and other
1. A summary of the Department of Agricultures initiatives through Delaware Grown and other
marketing campaigns, as well as farmers market programs to support Delaware producers.
marketing campaigns, as well as farmers market programs to support Delaware producers.
2. A summary of existing procurement efforts; including food vendor agreements and bid requirements
across state agencies, schools, early care, and summer programs, institutions, restaurants, and other entities. This includes limitations or compliance procedures that prohibit state agencies from purchasing locally.
3. Information to be used to determine the current amount of local purchasing; potential timelines for re-
3. Information to be used to determine the current amount of local purchasing; potential timelines for re-
negotiations to increase local purchasing requirements and to detail existing procurement approaches, nutritional standards, processing limitations; and other equipment, staffing and supply chain logistics influencing local purchasing decisions.
negotiations to increase local purchasing requirements and to detail existing procurement approaches, nutritional standards, processing limitations; and other equipment, staffing and supply chain logistics influencing local purchasing decisions.
4. A methodology to conduct surveys and gather data to determine a baseline of current local food
procurement across Delaware entities and insights about how supply chain logistics may be improved to sustain increased local procurement. This data can be used to inform future target setting.
5. A recommended target percentage for local food procurement that Delaware entities can strive to
achieve and Delaware producers can accommodate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a status update of any efforts must be submitted to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly by December 31, 2024.
SYNOPSIS This Concurrent Resolution encourages institutions, agencies, entities, and businesses that operate within Delaware, to purchase Delaware-grown food and value-added items. The Resolution also directs the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy to work with state agencies, higher education institutions, and other partners to prepare a report outlining current local procurement efforts to support a locally sourced food economy in Delaware, and to submit the report to the Governor and the members of the General Assembly by June 30, 2024. In addition, any updates on efforts must be submitted by December 31, 2024. Author: Senator Huxtable
SYNOPSIS
This Concurrent Resolution encourages institutions, agencies, entities, and businesses that operate within Delaware, to purchase Delaware-grown food and value-added items. The Resolution also directs the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy to work with state agencies, higher education institutions, and other partners to prepare a report outlining current local procurement efforts to support a locally sourced food economy in Delaware, and to submit the report to the Governor and the members of the General Assembly by June 30, 2024. In addition, any updates on efforts must be submitted by December 31, 2024.
Author: Senator Huxtable