H.R. 5234 — Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2025

This section converts the pilot project for procurement of unprocessed fruits and vegetables into a permanent program for procurement of domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables (i.e., expands eligible states from 8 to 14 and authorizes 2 projects per state); adds state selection criteria prioritizing support for small, local, and socially disadvantaged farmers, Tribal agricultural producers and traditional foods, and service to socially disadvantaged children; enhances state reporting requirements to include program challenges and opportunities; and requires USDA to evaluate program impacts (e.g., procurement quantities/costs, benefits to school meals, economic effects on producers, participation barriers) and report to Congress within four years. (1) The program supports school food authorities in the National School Lunch Program and related child nutrition programs by enabling direct purchases of fresh produce from domestic producers for school meals. (2) It appropriates $25 million in mandatory funding for each of FY2026 through FY2030, reserving $10 million annually for administrative costs and technical assistance to participating states (with a minimum $500,000 allotment per state) and $1 million for technical assistance to nonparticipating states if fewer than 14 states participate that year.