Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1731 into law, creating a promising new pathway for California’s agricultural and aquaculture producers to sell directly to public institutions.
While originally co-sponsored by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and Fullwell with land-based agriculture in mind, this legislation establishes the Healthy Food for California Public Institutions Program – a streamlined system that will help schools, universities, hospitals, and correctional facilities purchase locally grown, climate-smart food.
What this means for California Aquaculture:
Public institutions serve millions of meals a year and are actively looking to shift their purchasing toward healthy, locally sourced products. As schools phase out ultra-processed foods and universities seek sustainable protein options, California-raised fish, shellfish, and seaweed are well-positioned to meet this growing demand.
How the program will work:
Subject to legislative funding, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork will create a publicly available directory of approved regional suppliers. This list will connect institutional buyers directly with local farms, food hubs, and distributors.
To qualify, suppliers will need to offer whole or minimally processed California-grown foods produced using “climate-smart” agricultural practices.
To read the original press release regarding the passage of AB 1731, click here.
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