Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 2.djvu/514

 90 STAT. 1982

PUBLIC LAW 94-463—OCT. 8, 1976

Public Law 94-463 94th Congress An Act Oct. 8, 1976 [H.R. 10339] Farmer-toConsumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976. 7 USC 3001 note. 7 USC 3001.

To encourage the direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the ''Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976". PURPOSE

SEC. 2. It is the purpose of this Act to promote, through appropriate means and on an economically sustainable basis, the development and expansion of direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers. To accomplish this objective, the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") shall initiate and coordinate a program designed to facilitate direct marketing from farmers to consumers for the mutual benefit of consumers and farmers. DEFINITION

7 USC 3002.

SEC. 3. For purposes of this Act, the term "direct marketing from farmers to consumers" shall mean the marketing of agricultural commodities at any marketplace (including, but not limited to, roadside stands, city markets, and vehicles used for house-to-house marketing of agricultural commodities) established and maintained for the purpose of enabling farmers to sell (either individually or through a farmers' organization directly representing the farmers who produced the commodities being sold) their agricultural commodities directly to individual consumers, or organizations representing consumers, in a manner calculated to lower the cost and increase the quality of food to such consumers while providing increased financial returns to the farmers. SURVEY

7 USC 3003.

SEC. 4. The Secretary shall provide, through the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, or whatever agency or agencies the Secretary considers appropriate, a continuing survey of existing methods of direct marketing from farmers to consumers in each State. The initial survey, which shall be completed no later than one year following the date of enactment of this Act, shall include the number of types of such marketing methods in existence, the volume of business conducted through each such marketing method, and the impact of such marketing methods upon financial returns to farmers (including their impact upon improving the economic viability of small farmers) and food quality and costs to consumers. DIRECT MARKETING ASSISTANCE W I T H I N THE STATES

Funds, utilization.

7 USC 3004.

SEC. 5. (a) In order to promote the establishment and operation of direct marketing from farmers to consumers, the Secretary shall provide that funds appropriated to carry out this section be utilized by

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