Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2023

The Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2023 expands a program under the National School Lunch Act to require states to buy more domestically grown, unprocessed fruits and vegetables for school meals. It increases the number of participating states from 8 to 14 and mandates that states demonstrate commitments to supporting small/local farmers, Tribal producers, and schools serving disadvantaged students. The bill requires a federal evaluation within two years to assess program impacts on costs, school meal benefits, farmer economic impacts, and participation barriers, with a report due four years after enactment. It appropriates $15 million annually (2024-2028) for the program, reserving $10 million yearly for state administrative costs and technical assistance, and $1 million for non-participating states seeking to join.