(a)
There is hereby established within the department the California Fresh Start Pilot Program to provide fresh fruits and vegetable for public school pupils. This program shall be administered by the department, in consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the State Department of Health Services.
(b)
The program is intended to encourage public schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to provide fruits and vegetables that have not been deep fried to pupils in order to supplement other fruits and vegetables that have not been deep fried and that are available to those pupils, and in order to promote the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by schoolage children.
(c)
Fruits and vegetables that have not been deep fried that are provided pursuant to this article shall be provided free of charge to a pupil, where appropriate.
(d)
Fruits and vegetables that have not been deep fried that are provided pursuant to this article shall be provided during the schoolday, but not during regularly scheduled lunch periods.
(e)
In making procurement decisions pursuant to this article, a school district or a charter school shall give priority to the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables from California producers, when commercially available.