SECTION 1.  Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 15XXXXX, inserted by chapter 344 of the acts of 2014, the following section:—

Section 15YYYYY. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the month of October as Massachusetts Farm-to-School Month in recognition of the vital role agriculture plays in the culture, heritage and economy of the commonwealth, and to commend the farm-to-school programs which support improved nutrition and academic achievement among the student population and represent potential markets for local farmers, growers, and food producers in school settings; and recommending that the month be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.

SECTION 2.  The department of elementary and secondary education, the department of agricultural resources, and the department of public health are encouraged to initiate a joint taskforce in collaboration with the Massachusetts Farm-to-School Project to strategize opportunities to spread farm-to-school programs statewide.