Delaware program connects local farms with community food outlets

The Department must coordinate with the Delaware Farm and Food Council to run the Delaware Farm to Community Program. The Department works with the Delaware Farm and Food Council and eligible community outlets that distribute food in Delaware. The program operates only when funding is available under § 306A. The Department must make program information public for each growing season in which the program operates.

The Department may give grants to eligible community outlets for buying and distributing local food, including paying farmers a fixed added amount to transport food from other farms. Grants may support food purchases and distribution through Delaware food sites or home deliveries. Each outlet must have an active program agreement. Grant money may cover food bought from other listed states only after Delaware producers are served first, or when the food is unavailable or inaccessible in Delaware. Outlets may use no more than 10% of grant funds for added overhead costs, including administration, transportation, supplies, and staff or subcontractor pay.

The Department must make program results public, including counts of participating outlets, farmers, and food sites, the value of food bought, and site locations. The public report covers the program’s participating outlets, farmers, food sites, food purchases, and site locations. The Department must coordinate with the Delaware Farm and Food Council. The reporting duty applies to each growing season in which the program is implemented.