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An Act To Encourage the Purchase and Sale of Locally Grown and Raised Crops and Products
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA c. 8-A, sub-c. 4  is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 4
SPECIALTY CROPS CERTIFICATION COST-SHARE PROGRAM
§ 220-A. Specialty Crops Certification Cost-share Program
The Specialty Crops Certification Cost-share Program, referred to in this subchapter as "the program," is established in the department.
The commissioner, through the program, shall reimburse farmers for up to 50% of the cost of certification of specialty crops under the "Good Agricultural Practices" and "Good Handling Practices" voluntary audit programs under the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. As used in this subchapter, "specialty crops" means fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
 
1.  Reimbursement; funds.     Reimbursement under the program may not be more than $500 per farmer per year.
 
2.  Rules.     The commissioner shall adopt routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this subchapter.
 
3.  Report.     The commissioner shall monitor the program and report findings and any recommendations for changes to the program in the biennial report submitted to the Legislature and the Governor pursuant to section 2, subsection 5.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Specialty Crops Certification Cost-share Program in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and requires the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to reimburse farmers for up to 50% of the cost of certification of specialty crops under the "Good Agricultural Practices" and "Good Handling Practices" voluntary audit programs under the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. The bill also provides that reimbursement to farmers for certification may not be more than $500 per farmer per year.