Burgos bill to expand access to fresh, local food in school meals passes House
Rep. Danilo Burgos December 16, 2025 | 3:26 PM
HARRISBURG, Dec. 16 – Bipartisan legislation from state Reps. Danilo Burgos, D-Phila., and Jonathan Fritz, R-Susquehanna/Wayne, that would establish the Keystone Fresh Act passed the Pennsylvania House today.
House Bill 1768 would expand access to fresh, locally sourced foods in school meals while supporting Pennsylvania farmers and strengthening local economies.
"Schools across Pennsylvania serve more than 168 million lunches per year, providing critical nutrients to children across the state and making them one of the largest potential markets for agricultural producers in Pennsylvania,” said Burgos. “However, school board food service providers reportedly only spend 9% of their total food costs on local foods.
“Local food purchasing incentive legislation, like the Keystone Fresh Act, would establish a grant program incentivizing schools to purchase, promote and serve local foods in their meal programs,” he said.
The bill would provide funding for schools to buy more local foods, and resources for farmers to meet school market needs. Research shows that for every $1 spent on local food purchasing initiatives, $1.40 circulates back into local economies.
“With Pennsylvania’s diverse agriculture sector, this program would improve student nutrition, stimulate the farm economy, and strengthen connections among rural and urban communities. It’s a win-win across the board,” said Burgos.
The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration.