ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS AND SCHOOL GARDENS.

SEC. 122. ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS AND SCHOOL GARDENS. Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) (as amended by section 121) is amended by adding at the end the following: “(i) Access to Local Foods and School Gardens.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary may provide assistance, through competitive matching grants and technical assistance, to schools and nonprofit entities for projects that—“(A) improve access to local foods in schools and institutions participating in programs under this Act and section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) through farm-to-cafeteria activities, including school gardens, that may include the acquisition of food and appropriate equipment and the provision of training and education;“(B) are, at a minimum, designed to—“(i) procure local foods from small- and medium-sized farms for school meals; and“(ii) support school garden programs;“(C) support nutrition education activities or curriculum planning that incorporates the participation of school children in farm-based agricultural education activities, that may include school gardens;“(D) develop a sustained commitment to farm-to-cafeteria projects in the community by linking schools, State departments of agriculture, agricultural producers, parents, and other community stakeholders;“(E) require $100,000 or less in Federal contributions;“(F) require a Federal share of costs not to exceed 75 percent;“(G) provide matching support in the form of cash or in-kind contributions (including facilities, equipment, or services provided by State and local governments and private sources); and“(H) cooperate in an evaluation carried out by the Secretary.“(2) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009.”.118 STAT. 760