GOOD NEWS:

AB 958, Organic-to-School: Good News & Budget Support

Hello everyone,

I’m writing to share good news: AB 958 passed out of the Education Committee on Wednesday with no opposition and bipartisan support! Thanks to all of you for your continuing work to advance the first-ever Organic-to-School Pilot Program.

As a reminder, we are preparing to submit a sign-on letter in support of Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry’s budget request for $2 million in funding for the Organic-to-School Pilot Program (draft attached). If you do not want your organization to be listed as a supporter on the budget letter, please let me know you would like to opt out by next Tuesday, April 30. If you do not respond, we will include your organization as a supporter. (If you have already responded, please disregard this reminder.) Please also feel free to circulate this draft to other organizations that may want to join – they can email or call me to add their names.

The Organic-to-School Pilot Program would offer schools grant funding to purchase California-produced organic food. The bill gives priority to schools that: serve low-income students, serve agricultural communities, offer universal free school meals, or participate in the USDA’s unprocessed fruit and vegetable pilot program. It also encourages participating schools to source locally, seasonally, and from socially disadvantaged farmers and farms offering educational opportunities. You can learn more from the AB 958 press release, fact sheet, and NRDC blog.

Thanks again for all your work to bring healthy food to kids and improve California’s food landscape! Please feel free to be in touch with any questions.

Best,

Allison Johnson

Sustainable Food Policy Advocate*

Health & Food

Healthy People & Thriving Communities Program

Natural Resources Defense Council

111 SUTTER ST., 21ST FLOOR

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104