Notwithstanding any provisions or limitations of this article, the state Department of Agriculture and any other state departments or agencies hereafter so designated are authorized and empowered to distribute food, food stamps, surplus commodities and agricultural products under contracts and agreements with the federal government or any of its departments or agencies, and the state Department of Agriculture and any other state departments or agencies hereafter so designated are authorized and empowered to adopt rules and regulations in order to conform with federal requirements and standards for such distribution and also for the proper distribution of such food, food stamps, commodities and agricultural products. To the extent set forth in this section, the provisions of this article shall not apply to the state Department of Agriculture and any other state departments or agencies hereafter so designated for the purposes set forth in this section.