267A.3  Local food and farm program council.
  1.  A local food and farm program council is established to advise the local food and farm program coordinator carrying out the purpose and goals of this chapter as provided in section 267A.1.
  2.  The council shall be composed of the following voting members:
  a.  The secretary or the secretary’s designee.
  b.  The following persons appointed by the secretary:
  (1)  Four farmers each of whom shall produce an agricultural commodity in this state used to prepare or process a local food. A farmer must be actively engaged in the production of an agricultural commodity that is prepared or processed into the local food. The secretary must appoint farmers actively engaged in producing each of the following:
  (a)  Livestock used to produce meat products.
  (b)  Poultry used to produce poultry products.
  (c)  Dairy animals used to produce milk and dairy products.
  (d)  Fruit or vegetables to be washed or to be produced, cut, canned, or otherwise processed into products.
  (2)  Two managers of firms each of whom shall represent different types of processors of agricultural commodities doing business in this state. A manager shall be actively engaged in the purchase of agricultural commodities from farmers, the preparation or processing of those commodities into local food, and the resale of the local food to distributors on a wholesale basis in this state. The secretary must appoint managers actively engaged in the sale of the following:
  (a)  Meat products, poultry products, or milk or dairy products.
  (b)  Fruits or vegetables, fruit products, or vegetable products.
  (3)  One manager of a wholesale distributor of local food doing business in this state. The manager must be actively engaged in the purchase of local food prepared or processed from agricultural commodities by processors, and in the marketing of local food on a wholesale basis to food establishments in this state.
  (4)  Three managers of food establishments doing business in this state. Each manager must be actively engaged in the purchase of local food prepared or processed from agricultural commodities produced in this state, the purchase of the local food from wholesale distributors, and the marketing or distribution of the local food to consumers in this state. The secretary must appoint managers actively engaged in the operation of the following:
  (a)  A grocery store.
  (b)  A food service provider distributing food to any of the following:
  (i)  Students attending a public or private school from kindergarten through grade twelve.
  (ii)  Children attending a center for early education.
  (c)  A food service provider distributing local food to an institution not attended by children.
  (5)  Two heads of local or regional community food organizations doing business in this state. Each head must be actively engaged in promoting the well-being of Iowans through the distribution of local food prepared or processed from agricultural commodities produced in this state.
  (6)  An attorney practicing in areas of food and agricultural law.
  (7)  An employee of a government entity who specializes in nutrition programs.
  3.  The secretary may invite interested organizations to submit nominations of candidates eligible to be appointed to the council. A designee of the secretary or a member appointed by the secretary serves at the pleasure of the secretary.
  4.  The council shall be part of the department. The department shall perform administrative functions necessary for the operation of the council.
  5.  The council shall elect a chairperson from among its members each year on a rotating basis as provided by the council. The council shall meet on a regular basis and at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request to the chairperson of a majority of the members.
  6.  The members of the council shall not receive compensation for their services including as provided in section 7E.6. However, the members may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the council if allowed by the council. 
  7.  A majority of the members constitutes a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present is necessary for any substantive action to be taken by the council. The majority shall not include any member who has a conflict of interest and a statement by a member that the member has a conflict of interest is conclusive for this purpose. A vacancy in the membership does not impair the duties of the council.
2011 Acts, ch 128, §29, 60; 2022 Acts, ch 1152, §28
Referred to in §267A.2