Statement of managers - Purchases of locally produced foods

From page 106 of the statement of managers:

(54) Purchases of Locally Produced Foods
The House bill amends section 9(j) of the NSLA by authorizing the Secretary to: (1) encourage institutions that receive funds under the NSLA and the Child Nutrition Act (CNA) to purchase, to the maximum extent practicable and appropriate, locally-produced foods; (2) advise institutions about the policy related to purchasing locally-produced foods and post information related to this policy on the website maintained by the Secretary; and (3) allow institutions receiving funds under the NSLA and the CNA, including the DoD Fruit and Vegetable Program, to use geographic preference in their procurement of locally-produced foods. (Section 4304) The Senate amendment is the same as the House bill, except that Senate amendment pertains to locally produced fruits and vegetables. (Section 4902)
The Conference substitute adopts the House provision with an amendment to specify that the Department of Agriculture is required to allow institutions to use a geographic preference for the procurement of unprocessed, locally grown and raised agricultural products. (Section 4302)
The Managers do not intend that the Food and Nutrition Service interpret the term “unprocessed” literally, but rather intend that it be logically implemented. In specifying the term “unprocessed,” the Managers’ use of the term intends to preclude the use of geographic preference for agricultural products that have significant value added components. The Managers do not intend to preclude de minimis handling and preparation such as may be necessary to present an agricultural product to a school food authority in a useable form, such as washing vegetables, bagging greens, butchering livestock and poultry, pasteurizing milk, and putting eggs in a carton.