PURCHASES OF LOCALLY PRODUCED FOODS.

SEC. 4303. PURCHASES OF LOCALLY PRODUCED FOODS. Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by adding at the end the following: “(j) Purchases of Locally Produced Foods.— “(1) In general.—The Secretary shall— “(A) encourage institutions participating in the school lunch program under this Act and the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) to purchase, in addition to other food purchases, locally produced foods for school meal programs, to the maximum extent practicable and appropriate; “(B) advise institutions participating in a program described in subparagraph (A) of the policy described in that subparagraph and post information concerning the policy on the website maintained by the Secretary; and “(C) in accordance with requirements established by the Secretary, provide startup grants to not more than 200 institutions to defray the initial costs of equipment, materials, and storage facilities, and similar costs, incurred in carrying out the policy described in subparagraph (A). “(2) Authorization of appropriations.— “(A) In general.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $400,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007, to remain available until expended. “(B) Limitation.—No amounts may be made available to carry out this subsection unless specifically provided by an appropriation Act.”.