Panel advances bill to enshrine Delaware’s Farm‑to‑Community food procurement program into state law

Senate Bill 53, which would codify Delaware’s Farm‑to‑Community program into state law, received presentation and public testimony during the Senate Agriculture Committee meeting.

Senator Hocker said the initiative began in 2023 under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance program (LFPA) and has grown from two community outlets to nine outlets, 31 participating farmers and roughly 105 distribution sites across three counties. "More than $1,000,000 worth of regional food products have already been distributed through this effort," he said, and the bill aims to support local procurement, strengthen supply chains and create predictability for farmers and community outlets.

Committee members pressed for clarity on funding. Amy Beam of the Delaware Department of Education, who oversees nutrition programs and serves on the Farm and Food Policy Council, told the committee that USDA LFPA funding ran through July 2025 and that ARPA interest funds were used to continue the program thereafter. "That’s where we get to the funding through the 2028," Beam said, adding she did not have additional specifics. Deputy Secretary Jimmy Crown of the Delaware Department of Agriculture confirmed prior funding arrangements and said there remains uncertainty about future federal action.

Senator Wilson expressed support for the bill, emphasizing agriculture’s role in the state economy and the program’s benefits for food security and local farmers. The committee record includes letters of support placed in members’ packets, including a submission from the Delaware Farm Bureau.

Cindy Grossnickel, representing the Delaware Farm Bureau, testified in favor of SB53, calling the program "stability for farmers" that also ensures communities have access to fresh, local and nutritious foods.

The committee concluded its agenda and the chair stated that the bill backers had been passed and asked members to sign related paperwork; the transcript does not include a roll‑call vote tally for SB53.