§ 7625. National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Program

(a) In general

The Secretary shall award grants under this section to carry out the competitive grant program established under section 399c (d) ^[1] of title 21, pursuant to any memoranda of understanding entered into under such section.

(b) Integrated approach

The grant program described under subsection (a) shall be carried out under this section in a manner that facilitates the integration of food safety standards and guidance with the variety of agricultural production systems, encompassing conventional, sustainable, organic, and conservation and environmental practices.

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that target small and medium-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.

(d) Program coordination

(1) In general

The Secretary shall coordinate implementation of the grant program under this section with the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative.

(2) Interaction

The Secretary shall—

(A) in carrying out the grant program under this section, take into consideration applied research, education, and extension results obtained from the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative; and

(B) in determining the applied research agenda for the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative, take into consideration the needs articulated by participants in projects funded by the program under this section.

(e) Grants

(1) In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall make competitive grants to support training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance projects that will help improve public health by increasing the understanding and adoption of established food safety standards, guidance, and protocols.

(2) Encouraged features

The Secretary shall encourage projects carried out using grant funds under this section to include co-management of food safety, conservation systems, and ecological health.

(3) Maximum term and size of grant

(A) In general

A grant under this section shall have a term that is not more than 3 years.

(B) Limitation on grant funding

The Secretary may not provide grant funding to an entity under this section after such entity has received 3 years of grant funding under this section.

(f) Grant eligibility

(1) In general

To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity shall be—

(A) a State cooperative extension service;

(B) a Federal, State, local, or tribal agency, a nonprofit community-based or non-governmental organization, or an organization representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers that has a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety;

(C) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 (a) of title 20) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education;

(D) a collaboration of 2 of more eligible entities described in this subsection; or

(E) such other appropriate entity, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) Multistate partnerships

Grants under this section may be made for projects involving more than 1 State.

(g) Regional balance

In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure—

(1) geographic diversity; and

(2) diversity of types of agricultural production.

(h) Technical assistance

The Secretary may use funds made available under this section to provide technical assistance to grant recipients to further the purposes of this section.

(i) Best practices and model programs

Based on evaluations of, and responses arising from, projects funded under this section, the Secretary may issue a set of recommended best practices and models for food safety training programs for agricultural producers, small food processors, and small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers.

(j) Authorization of appropriations

For the purposes of making grants under this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

[1] See References in Text note below.

U.S. Code

§ 7625. National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Program