Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act

The Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act (Act) was enacted in 2017 and amended in 2019 to create, strengthen, and expand local farm and food economies throughout the state. The Act requires institutions to set a goal of at least 20% of their purchase of food products to be spent on local food. It also requires institutions to complete a reporting form, created by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, on their local food procurement budget on a yearly basis.

Institution: Institute of higher education, school district, early childhood education facility, state agency or other entity of the state, Medicaid provider (e.g. senior care center), libraries, and others.

Local Food: Food products that are grown in Arkansas and/or packaged and processed in Arkansas. Food packaging is the enclosing of food for transport, storage, and retail sale. Ex: enclosing, bagging, etc. Food processing is the alteration of food from its natural raw state. Ex: washing, cutting, etc.