TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — A bill moving through the Oklahoma Legislature aims to expand access to locally grown food while strengthening connections between farmers, markets, and communities across the state.
Senate Bill 2061, authored by Nikki Nice, would create an Oklahoma Food Policy Council designed to help develop and coordinate local food networks statewide.
The council would include appointees from the governor, speaker of the House and Senate pro tem, as well as representatives from Langston University Cooperative Extension Service and Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service.
Supporters say the goal is to improve access to fresh, locally grown produce while also supporting Oklahoma farmers and producers.
“Through SB 2061, we can connect our local producers, farmers, urban gardens, community gardens and farmers markets to help more Oklahomans enjoy locally grown, healthy foods,” Senator Nice said in a press release. “It’s good for our local economy and for promoting better health in our state.”
The council would advise the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture on strategies to strengthen local food systems, expand distribution networks and increase visibility for Oklahoma-grown products.
The bill now moves to the House, where Representative Jim Grego is the principal author.
Grego said the proposal is intended to make it easier for farmers to get food from farms to communities.
“It’s just setting up a council to help move more homegrown food to market and into our cities,” Grego said. He added that the effort could also help connect food to schools and improve local access.
For farmers like Colby Craige of Birch Creek Farm, the issue is both demand and sustainability.
“There’s plenty of demand for local food, but I don’t want to only be able to produce food for the wealthy,” Craige said.
Craige, who is in his sixth season of farming, said small producers often struggle with distribution, pricing, and long-term viability.
“It’s a lot of work to manage and distribute produce,” he said. “When you sell to a food hub, it goes to one place, and it simplifies everything for the grower.”
He also said while demand exists, pricing remains a challenge for many small farms.
“There’s a lot of people who want it, but you can’t make a living that way,” Craige said.
State leaders say the proposed council could help streamline distribution, improve coordination between programs, and support small farms across the state.
If approved, the council would work alongside state agencies and agriculture partners to further develop Oklahoma’s local food infrastructure.
