The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act directs the Department of Agriculture to purchase a broader variety of foods that support small farms, worker protections, environmental sustainability, and equity. Specifically, the USDA must purchase foods from beginning farmers, veteran farmers, and socially disadvantaged farmers; foods produced using environmentally sustainable practices; foods from vendors with fair labor practices; and foods with lower greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires the USDA to establish a five-year pilot program using evaluation criteria that go beyond price alone when selecting food suppliers, with at least twenty percent of annual food spending subject to these new standards. The bill authorizes twenty-five million dollars for fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to provide grants and technical assistance to small farmers, ranches, and fishing businesses seeking to participate in federal food procurement programs. The USDA must also report to Congress within one year on current spending patterns and set targets to increase sustainable and equitable food purchasing by 2032.
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