Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program - - CA Food And Agriculture Code

Section § 49010

This law is called the California Nutrition Incentives Act.

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Nutrition Incentives Act.

California Nutrition Incentives nutrition programs food assistance incentive programs healthy food access state nutrition initiatives food security public health nutrition agricultural incentives dietary health nutrition support programs food benefit programs local food systems nutrition funding state incentive program

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 442, Sec. 2. (AB 1321) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Section § 49011

This law sets up the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program to promote the purchase and eating of fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in California. The program connects local farmers with people who receive nutrition benefits, making it easier for these clients to access and buy fresh produce.

The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program is hereby established in the Office of Farm to Fork for purposes of encouraging the purchase and consumption of California fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables by directly linking California fresh fruit, nut, and vegetable producers with nutrition benefit clients.

Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program Office of Farm to Fork California fresh produce fruit nut and vegetable producers nutrition benefit clients local farmers consumption of fresh produce fresh fruit purchase vegetable consumption grant program access to fresh produce nutrition benefits

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 442, Sec. 2. (AB 1321) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Section § 49012

This section defines key terms for programs that enhance the value of food assistance benefits when used to buy fresh produce grown in California. A 'consumer incentive program' boosts the purchasing power of these benefits. A 'nutrition benefit client' can be anyone using services like WIC, CalWORKs, CalFresh, and others. A 'qualified entity' refers to certified farmers' markets, certain small businesses, or nonprofits that can accept these benefits for fresh fruit, nuts, and vegetables.

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Consumer incentive program” means a program administered by a qualified entity that increases the purchasing value of a nutrition benefit client’s benefits when the benefits are used to purchase California fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

(b) “Nutrition benefit client” means a person who receives services or payments through any of the following:

(1) California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, as described in Section 123280 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) CalWORKs program, as described in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) CalFresh, as described in Section 18900.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(4) Implementation of the federal WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-314).

(5) The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, as described in Section 3007 of Title 7 of the United States Code.

(6) Supplemental Security Income or State Supplementary Payment, as described in Section 1381 and following of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(1) A certified farmers’ market, as described in Section 47004, an association of certified producers, a community-supported agriculture program, as defined in Section 47060, a farm stand, as defined in Section 47050, or a nonprofit organization representing a collective or association of certified producers that is authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture to accept federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Chapter 51 (commencing with Section 2011) of Title 7 of the United States Code) benefits from recipient purchasers at a farmers’ market. Certified producers shall be certified by the county agricultural commissioner pursuant to Section 47020.

(2) A small business, as defined in Section 14837 of the Government Code, that sells California grown fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables and that is authorized to accept nutrition benefits from any of the programs listed in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (b).

consumer incentive program nutrition benefit client California fresh produce WIC CalWORKs CalFresh farmers' market community-supported agriculture small business produce sales Supplemental Security Income Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program CalFresh benefits qualified entity nutrition benefits certified producers

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 51, Sec. 2. (SB 854) Effective June 27, 2018.)

Section § 49013

This law establishes a special account to collect funds from various sources, including federal grants and donations, to support the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program. The program offers grants to organizations to help implement food assistance initiatives.

The Department of Food and Agriculture can provide up to 50% of a grant in advance to organizations with an operating budget of $500,000 or less, but only if the organization shows that advance payment is necessary for the program's success due to financial hardship.

(a) The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account is hereby created in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund to collect matching funds from the federal Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program (7 U.S.C. Sec. 7517), if available, and from other public and private sources, to provide grants under the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program. The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program shall provide grants upon the deposit of sufficient funds, including from a successful application of federal grant funding, if available, into the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may provide grant funds to a grantee in advance of the expenditure of funds by the grantee for implementation of the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program, instead of in the form of a reimbursement after the expenditure of funds for that program, in an amount equal to or less than 50 percent of the grant amount provided in the grantee’s grant agreement pursuant to subdivision (a) and Section 49014, if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The grantee has declared an operating budget of no more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

(2) The department makes a determination, based upon a request submitted by the grantee declaring hardship, that an advance payment is essential for the effective implementation of the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program by the grantee.

Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program federal grant funding advance payment food assistance operating budget under $500 000 financial hardship Department of Food and Agriculture grant application public and private funding food insecurity grant implementation federal Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program grant agreement grantee requirements financial assistance for nonprofits

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 51, Sec. 3. (SB 854) Effective June 27, 2018.)

Section § 49014

The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program provides grants to organizations that run consumer incentive programs, encouraging the purchase of fresh, California-grown produce. The program has specific rules and priorities for awarding these grants, such as serving areas lacking current consumer incentive programs and focusing on communities with high needs like those with high rates of diet-related illnesses. Grants are prioritized for organizations that can demonstrate efficient program administration. The program must also comply with federal agricultural regulations, and only a portion of the funds can go to certain types of organizations.

The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program shall be administered in accordance with all of the following:

(a) Subject to the regulations adopted by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the United States Department of Agriculture in accordance with the federal Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79), or any subsequent federal agricultural act, moneys in the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account shall be awarded in the form of grants to qualified entities for consumer incentive programs.

(b)

(1) The Office of Farm to Fork shall establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants in consultation with the United States Department of Agriculture and other interested stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Public Health, State Department of Social Services, organizations with expertise in nutrition benefit programs or consumer incentive programs, small business owners that may qualify as a qualified entity, and certified farmers’ market operators.

(2) The department shall not use more than one-third of the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program funds for consumer incentive programs with qualified entities described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 49012 that are not otherwise qualified pursuant to paragraph (1) of that subdivision.

(c) The department shall give priority in awarding grants to qualified entities based on, but not limited to, the following:

(1) The service of an area of population currently not being served by a consumer incentive program.

(2) The degree of the existence of the following demographic conditions and the character of the communities in which sales of California grown fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables are made to the public by authorized vendors operating in conjunction with a qualified entity:

(A) The number of people who are eligible for, or receiving, nutrition benefit program services.

(B) The prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and other diet-related illnesses.

(3) Demonstrated efficiency in the administration of a consumer incentive program.

Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program consumer incentive programs fresh produce California-grown grant administration diet-related illnesses community health nutrition benefit programs federal agricultural regulations prioritization criteria efficiency in administration underserved areas funding procedures public health stakeholders access to fresh foods

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 51, Sec. 4. (SB 854) Effective June 27, 2018.)

Section § 49015

This section outlines the California Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, which provides grants to help corner stores and small businesses in low-income or low-access areas acquire refrigeration equipment. These stores, often in areas where access to fresh foods is limited, can use the funds to stock healthy, California-grown fresh produce and minimally processed foods. Qualified entities, such as small businesses, tribal governments, and nonprofits, can apply for grants to support these efforts. Grant recipients are required to use funds for energy-efficient refrigeration units and prioritize stocking them with fresh, local produce. Cities, counties, and other entities involved must report their use of the funds and can allocate a portion of their grant to technical assistance. When awarding grants, priority is given to areas with limited access to fresh foods, those with a high prevalence of diet-related illnesses, and populations receiving nutrition benefits.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Corner store” means a small-scale store or grocery store, either an independent store or a chain store, that sells a limited selection of foods and other products, and that is located in a low-income area or low-access area in a rural, urban, or suburban area or tribal community. “Corner store” includes, among others, stores that are not located on a corner and stores commonly referred to as convenience stores or neighborhood stores.

(2) “Low-access area” means a census tract in which there are significant barriers to accessing a supermarket or large grocery store, which may include, but is not limited to, a census tract with at least 500 persons or 33 percent of the population that lives more than one mile, for nonrural areas, or more than 10 miles, for rural areas, from a supermarket or large grocery store.

(3) “Low-income area” means a census tract in which the income of at least 20 percent of the population is at or below the federal poverty level by family size, or if the median family income of the population is at or below 80 percent of the median family income of surrounding census tracts.

(4) “Minimally processed prepared food” may include any food prepared using either of the following processes:

(A) Traditional processes used to make food edible or to preserve it or to make it safe for human consumption, for example, smoking, roasting, freezing, drying, and fermenting.

(B) Physical processes that do not fundamentally alter the raw product or that only separate a whole, intact food into component parts, for example, grinding meat, separating eggs into albumen and yolk, and pressing fruits to produce juices.

(5) “Qualified entity” means any of the following:

(A) A small business or corner store.

(B) A city, county, or city and county, or tribal government or tribal organization with representative low-income areas that contain small businesses or corner stores or that is qualified to provide technical assistance to applicant small businesses or corner stores.

(C) A nonprofit entity or tribal government that works with low-income populations or in low-income areas or low-access areas, and that would do any of the following:

(i) Apply for grants on behalf of a small business, corner store, or tribal members, or a collection of small businesses, corner stores, or tribal members.

(ii) Sell or donate California-grown fresh fruits, nuts, vegetables, and minimally processed prepared foods directly in low-income areas or low-access areas.

(iii) Provide technical assistance to applicant small businesses or corner stores.

(6) “Recipient” means a small business, corner store, city, county, city and county, tribal government or tribal organization, or other nonprofit entity that is provided funds pursuant to subdivision (c).

(7) “Small business” means a small business, as defined in Section 14837 of the Government Code, that is authorized to accept nutrition benefits from any of the programs listed in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 49012, and is located in a low-income area or low-access area.

(b) The Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program shall be created in the department upon the appropriation of funds, including from a successful application of federal grant funding, if available, by the Legislature for purposes of the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program.

(c)

(1) Upon an appropriation of funds as specified in subdivision (b), the department shall administer the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program and, pursuant to the program, award grants to qualified entities. If a city, county, or city and county is awarded a grant pursuant to this subdivision, it shall provide grant funds or provide technical assistance, or both, to applicant small businesses and corner stores that are located in low-income areas or low-access areas. Notwithstanding any other law, the department may pay funds to a recipient in advance of the expenditure of funds by the recipient for implementation of the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, instead of in the form of a reimbursement after the expenditure of funds for that program, in an amount equal to or less than 90 percent of the grant amount provided in the recipient’s grant agreement.

(2) The department shall award funds to qualified technical assistance providers to provide assistance with grant implementation for program applicants who are not receiving assistance from another recipient. The department shall allocate at least 3 percent of the total amount appropriated to the department in each fiscal year pursuant to subdivision (b) to qualified technical assistance providers pursuant to this paragraph.

(3) When awarding grants, the department shall give priority based on, but not limited to, the prevalence of any of the following in the communities that would be served by the qualified entity:

(A) People who are eligible for, or are receiving, nutrition benefits from any of the programs listed in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 49012.

(B) People with diabetes, obesity, or other diet-related illnesses.

(4) When awarding grants, the department shall consider giving priority to qualified entities based on, but not limited to, demonstrated efficiency and capability in the administration of a consumer incentive program, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 49012.

(5) The department may establish regulations, minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants to qualified entities, and may adopt any other regulations to implement and administer the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program.

(d) A recipient shall be required to do all of the following:

(1) Use the grant funds provided pursuant to subdivision (c) to purchase an energy-efficient refrigeration or cold storage unit or units or to provide technical assistance, or both.

(2) Prioritize stocking the refrigeration unit or units purchased with Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program grant funds with California-grown fresh fruits, nuts, vegetables, dairy products, meat, eggs, and minimally processed prepared foods.

(3) Offer for sale fresh fruits, nuts, vegetables, and minimally processed prepared foods, including culturally appropriate foods, grown in California to the extent that is possible.

(e) A recipient shall be subject to reporting and auditing requirements, as determined by the department.

(f) A city, county, city and county, tribal government, tribal organization, or nonprofit entity that is awarded a grant pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) and is providing grant funds to corner stores or small businesses to purchase refrigeration equipment may use up to 20 percent of Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program grant funds for technical assistance.

(g) Sections 9 and 42971 do not apply for a violation of this section or any regulation adopted pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (c).

Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program corner store low-income area low-access area small business fresh produce California-grown energy-efficient refrigeration technical assistance nutrition benefits diet-related illnesses tribal government nonprofit entity grant priority reporting requirements

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 258, Sec. 1. (SB 155) Effective September 23, 2021.)

Section § 49016

If an organization receives a grant from one program mentioned in this chapter, it can still qualify for a grant from the other program. Receiving a grant from one doesn't make an entity ineligible for the other.

The receipt of a grant under either program established in this chapter shall not preclude an entity from being eligible to receive a grant under the other program.

grant eligibility multiple program grants funding eligibility entity qualification program grants grant programs chapter programs program chapter grant receipt eligibility for grants grant funding rules program eligibility dual grant eligibility grant access concurrent program grants

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 51, Sec. 6. (SB 854) Effective June 27, 2018.)