Amendment ID: S3029-22

Amendment 22

Buy Local Strategic Planning

Mr. Tarr moves that the proposed new draft be amended by adding the following section:-

"SECTION __.  The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, in consultation with the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, shall develop a five-year plan to enhance, and increase the effectiveness and impact of the "Buy Local " program currently administered by the department for the purpose of encouraging the purchase and consumption of locally produced and harvested agricultural and fish food products in the Commonwealth.  The plan shall analyze the methodologies supported by the current program, and develop strategies, tools, and actions to increase awareness and consumption of such local products, shall contain one or more assessment techniques to measure the impacts of the program, and annual goals for such increases.  Said plan shall also identify the resources needed to support any and all actions it identifies, and any obstacles to achieving its goals, and shall be updated annually.

In developing the plan, the department shall conduct no less than three public hearings in geographically diverse regions of the Commonwealth, which shall be accessible to remote participation, provided further that the plan, and its annual updates together with any legislative and or regulatory recommendations, shall be filed with the clerks of the House and Senate, and the Joint Committee on Agriculture."