SPONSOR:	Rep. Hudson & Rep. Roy;
	Reps. Carey, Caulk, Fallon, Hocker, Maier, Stone, Thornburg, Valihura

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

142nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 74

URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE "FARM TO CAFETERIA PROJECTS ACT".

WHEREAS, in the past thirty years childhood obesity rates in the United States have doubled in our children and tripled in our adolescents due to poor eating habits which can contribute to increased likelihood of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and clogging of the arteries; and

WHEREAS, school cafeterias serve millions of children breakfast, snacks and lunch every day and struggle to maintain services in light of diminished budgets at the local, State and federal levels; and

WHEREAS, in May of 2003, the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the USDA released an evaluation of the School Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program which, according to the report, worked to immediately change children’s fruit and vegetable consumption, improve their health, create a healthier school environment and a positive model for children’s diets; and

WHEREAS, agriculture sustains rural communities, protects open space, creates scenic vistas, and protects water recharge areas; and

WHEREAS, the Northeast states have a traditional system of small and mid-sized producers located in close proximity to towns, villages and urban centers where the majority of the 58 million consumers reside; and

WHEREAS, programs that link local farms to cafeterias are reconnecting urban America with local agriculture in every state where they operate and provide a unique opportunity to make local agriculture relevant to the majority of the American population that now resides in urban and suburban areas; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress is currently considering the “Farm to Cafeteria Projects Act”, (S. 1755/HR 2626); and

WHEREAS, passage of the “Farm to Cafeteria Projects Act”, would provide $10,000,000 annually for grants of up to $100,000 to school districts or nonprofit organizations to create farm to cafeteria projects and overcome the initial challenges schools face in purchasing locally-grown food.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 142^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware that the members of the United States Congress be urged to pass the “Farm to Cafeteria Projects Act” and any other legislation that will accomplish the following goals:

1. Assist schools in purchasing locally-grown food;

2. Provide more healthy, fresh food for school children;

3. Educate children and their families about the foods that are grown in their own communities; and

4. Expand market opportunities for local farms assuring that regional agriculture continues to be viable and available to provide a safe, secure food supply to all consumers.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitably prepared copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitably prepared copy of this Resolution be forwarded to all members of the Congressional Delegations of the Northeast States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitably prepared copy of this Resolution be forwarded to all of the Governors and Agriculture Commissioners of the Northeast States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitably prepared copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship (NSAAS).