Agriculture - Access to Food (Maryland Food Security, Access, and Equity Act)

This bill creates a new Food Security Coordination Office within Maryland's Department of Agriculture to oversee statewide efforts to improve food access and reduce food insecurity. It establishes a Rural-to-Urban Produce Distribution Program that would connect local farmers with urban and suburban communities through distribution hubs and improved transportation infrastructure. The legislation also sets up a financing program offering low- or no-interest loans to help fund projects like cold storage facilities, delivery fleets, and distribution centers that move Maryland-grown produce to food-insecure areas. Additionally, the bill expands the Jane Lawton Farm-to-School Program to include more schools and adds support for school gardens and nutrition education. The Department of Agriculture would be required to publish an annual report on food security and coordinate partnerships between farmers, food distributors, and community organizations.