By Representative Tarleton

ADOPTED 3/6/2015

On page 4, line 9, after "expertise;" strike "and"

On page 4, line 12, after "10-02" insert "; and

(f) Shall coordinate with the Washington State University center for sustaining agriculture and natural resources as provided in section 3 of this act"

On page 5, line 9, beginning with "(9)" strike all material through "2017."

On page 5, after line 9, insert the following:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  "(1) The food policy forum shall coordinate with the Washington State University center for sustaining agriculture and natural resources and review, consider, and discuss the study described in this section that must be performed by the Washington State University center for sustaining agriculture and natural resources.

(2) The study shall build on the work performed by the Washington state food system roundtable initiated by executive order No. 10-02 and identify a twenty-five year goal for expansion of the state's food production, processing, and distribution capacity by:

(a) Evaluating the geographic distances between local farm production and points of local food consumption within the local food supply chain in order to define what constitutes a local economic impact;

(b) Evaluating the state's capacity to produce a variety of food products given the state's environment and climate;

(c) Assessing a potential market demand for an increased local food supply, through surveys of processors, distributors, and buyers;

(d) Analyzing the Seattle restaurant online resource as a model and potential navigational tool for local food producers as a potential replacement of the Washington state department of agriculture handbook for small and direct marketing farms, to reduce regulatory barriers within the local food supply chain;

(e) Identifying infrastructure needs to support the local food industry, including processing capacity and transportation networks;

(f) Assessing the relative economic impact of retaining local food supply chain business within the state and local food producers exporting goods out of state;

(g) Assessing the institutional capacity of state agencies and organizations to foster economic growth in the food sector;

(h) Evaluating changes in state planning, permitting, environmental regulation, and financing to enhance food production, processing, and distribution;

(i) Evaluating the economic impact of urban community gardens, including P-patches that are part of the local food supply chain and provide healthy foods for schools and local communities; and

(j) Identifying legislative actions needed to implement food system improvements.

(3) The recommendations of the study must include short and long-term action plans for the legislature to support and sustain the local food sector in Washington. The recommendations of the study must also include strategies for effective education and awareness programs with school and community groups about the local food supply chain. The recommendations of the study may include specific legislative approaches, such as changes in state law, and nonlegislative approaches, such as action plans for state agencies and local governments.

(4) The members of the food policy forum appointed pursuant to section 2 of this act may provide technical information, advice, and assistance to the Washington State University center for sustaining agriculture and natural resources in completing the study.

(5) The study, with findings and recommendations, must be reported to the food policy forum by July 1, 2016.

EFFECT: Requires the food policy forum to coordinate with the Washington State University center for sustaining agriculture and natural resources and to review, consider, and discuss a study that the Washington State University center for sustaining agriculture and natural resources is required to perform that builds on work performed by the Washington state food system roundtable and identifies a twenty-five year goal for expansion of the state's food production, processing, and distribution capacity.