Under existing law, the policy of the state is that every human being has the right to access sufficient, affordable, and healthy food. Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including, among others, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county, and the CalFood Program, under which food and funding is provided to food banks whose primary function is to facilitate the distribution of food to low-income households, as specified. Existing law also creates the Office of Farm to Fork within the Department of Food and Agriculture, and requires the office, to the extent that resources are available, to work with various entities, as prescribed, to increase the amount of agricultural products available to underserved communities and schools in the state.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would address food affordability issues and expand access to healthy foods in food deserts and areas at risk of becoming food deserts in California.