March 2025
Farm to Plate is Vermont’s food system plan being implemented statewide to increase economic development and jobs in the farm and food sector and improve access to healthy local food for all Vermonters.
2021-2030 Vermont Food System Strategic Plan
Access the 2024 Farm to Plate Annual Report
Farm to Plate Sponsorship Opportunity
Interested in becoming a Vermont Farm to Plate sponsor?
We're looking for additional sponsors in 2025. This is a perfect marketing opportunity for small businesses, and it helps us pay for events like our Annual Gathering. Sponsorship levels start at $100 and depending on the level, come with logo recognition, advertisements in the e-news, and free registration to the Gathering.
Click here to learn more about our sponsor levels!
Network Member Updates & News
Local Food for Schools and Child Care Program Terminated
Action Needed!
The Federal Government has cancelled the Local Food for Schools and Child Care program, which was intended to provide $600 million in funding nationwide.
The USDA entered into a cooperative agreement with he Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) for $1,222,076 in LFSCC funding.
This included:
- $944,226 designated for Vermont schools, planned to be distributed through local food hubs, similar to the previous Local Food for Schools (LFS) grant
- $277,850 designated for early childhood programs
100% of this $1.2 million was dedicated to food purchases, meaning it would have gone directly into the hands of Vermont farmers, and provided healthy local food to Vermont's children, helping to ensure food security.
Every dollar spent on local food generates an additional $1.60 in economic activity for Vermont. This funding would have benefited farmers, food hubs, distributors, local processors, and rural communities.
The LFSCC program would have built from the success of the 2023 Local Food for Schools (LFS) project, which provided local food to every School Food Authority in Vermont through their local food hub. Plans for the LFSCC also included a new program component that would have provided local food to over 250 early childhood programs in Vermont.
Here's how you can help:
- Speak Up for Local Food in Schools and Child Care!
- Share Your Story: Help illustrate the real impact of this cut
- Join the Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network Open Call: We will be holding an open call on Wednesday March 19th at noon to discuss the funding cut, potential actions, and hear directly from those impacted
- Spread the Word: Share this information with your networks, farmers, educators, parents, and advocates need to understand what’s at stake
Salvation Farms Establishing Food Processor Facility
Are you a food producer looking for processing space?
Salvation Farms is establishing a food processing facility in Morrisville slated to open in 2025. We are seeking a business looking to ramp up that would be interested in using our production space 1 to 2 days per week when Salvation Farms is not processing.
The facility is 6,000+ square feet and includes a loading dock, freezer and cooler space, with a variety of kitchen equipment. We anticipate this being an allergen free production space.
We're hoping to have exploratory conversations with any business that would like to learn more. If you are interested, please email Tony or call 802-888-4360.
The Uncertain Future of SNAP Benefits
Hunger Free Staffer Interviewed in Newsweek
Ivy Enoch, SNAP policy and training lead at Hunger Free Vermont was recently interviewed by Newsweek about the uncertain future of SNAP benefits.
"Everyone currently participating in SNAP is at risk of losing some or all of their benefits. There is no way to make such deep cuts to SNAP without harming families. This would make it extremely difficult if not impossible for millions of people to afford groceries."
Navigating Federal Policy
Vermont Task Force on Federal Transition
The Office of the State Treasurer has established a 2025 Task Force on Federal Transition to advise the Treasurer about federal policy, legal changes, and the opportunities or challenges they create for the Vermont economy, future state fiscal or financial policy, or for Vermonters’ households and businesses.
This is a living page that will be updated with meeting records and resources as they become available.
Webinar Recording: Immigration & ICE Rights, Responsibilities, & Support for VT Businesses and Non-Profits (02/06/2025)
Learn More & See Past Meeting Records
Vermont Language Justice Project Resources
The Vermont Language Justice Project has developed a library of multi-lingual videos explaining rights and legal issues in 19 languages across 16 topic areas:
- Children
- Climate & Weather
- Education
- Employment
- Finances
- Food
- Health
- Health Testing
- Healthy Living
- Housing
- Life in the US
- Mental Health
- Safety
- Transportation
- Vermont
- Your Rights/Legal Issues
Upcoming Events & Education Opportunities
Celebrating Vermont's Female Farmers: A Photography Exhibit at UVM
Leslie McCrorey, Lovestock Farm
Photo credit: JuanCarlos González
Mary Lake of Can-do Shearing
Photo credit: JuanCarlos González
Amanda Gervais of Savage Gardens
Photo credit: JuanCarlos González
Photographer JuanCarlos González presents "Vermont Female Farmers," an exhibition featuring 45 photographs that offer an intimate glimpse into the lives of women whose dedication shapes Vermont's agricultural landscape. The exhibit runs from February 4 through May 17, 2025, at the Fleming Museum of Art at the University of Vermont.
Drawing inspiration from his own experiences on his grandmother's farm, he began the project in 2020 to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of female farmers. What began as a series of 10 portraits expanded to nearly 50, capturing moments of intense concentration and joyous pride. Notably, women constitute 41% of farmers in Vermont, underscoring the exhibition's significance.
The exhibition showcases the diversity of Vermont's farming community, and challenges traditional notions of identity and work within agriculture. Visitors can explore the multifaceted roles these women play in sustaining the state's culture, economy, and identity.
Learn More about the exhibit at UVM
Learn More about the background of the project
Taste the Valley: A Producer & Buyer Networking Event
Taste the Valley, hosted by ACORN Food Hub, is a networking event that offers an opportunity for local food producers to meet and connect with new customers and buyers in their region.
Producers are able to either have a display to showcase their brands or attend to network.
Buyers of local products can discover what's happening in the local food scene, make connections, and find new products to bring to their businesses. Distributors, retailers, farm stands, restaurants, institutions, food processors, CSA-farms, and other food hubs are all encouraged to attend.
This event will take place on Thursday, March 20th, from 9:30am to 12:00pm at Wilson Hall on the Middlebury College campus.
The Future of Vermont Dairy - A Listening Tour
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is holding a series of listening sessions across the state this spring. These sessions are for dairy stakeholders, farmers and processors, to understand your perspectives and visions for the future of dairy in Vermont that can lead to new, actionable ideas.
Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to attend a meeting or provide feedback. Each meeting will include a working portion focused on putting ideas into short-term, near-term, and long-term priority levels.
In- Person Sessions
March 17, Addison County
March 17, Rutland County
March 18, Bennington County
March 27, Windsor County
March 27, Windham County
March 28, Orange County
April 7, Caledonia County
April 7, Orleans County
April 8, Essex County
April 14, Washington County
April 14, Chittenden County
April 15, Addison County
April 17, Franklin County
April 24, Lamoille County
Virtual Focus Group Sessions
April 28, Sheep & Goat
May 1, Processors
May 7, Young & Beginning
May 8, General Public
Farmer Agroforestry Cohort
This two-year educational opportunity from NOFA-VT brings together Vermont farmers in a to explore the role diverse agroforestry systems play in building long-term farm and food system resilience. Participants will build their knowledge of complex agroforestry system design and management through technical workshops, peer-to-peer discussions, farm visits, and more.
Resources Corner
Reaching Women in Agriculture: A Guide for Virtual Engagement
This guide, developed by American Farmland Trust and UVM Extension, lays out information, tips and tools to deliver effective and engaging online (and hybrid) education for farm and ranch women on topics related to farm viability, resilience and conservation.
Online offerings can help address barriers—travel time and costs, and conflicts with farm, family and off-farm employment— many women may encounter when trying to access in-person education.
Vermont Sugarmakers Affected by Tariffs
Vermont's maple syrup industry is facing significant challenges due to new tariffs on Canadian goods, including equipment used in syrup production. Vermont sugarmakers are feeling the pressure as these tariffs, combined with unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, create uncertainty. Many producers are diversifying by tapping alternative tree syrups like birch and beech to fortify their businesses and reduce reliance on a single product. The tariffs pose major challenges, affecting the cost of equipment and the overall financial stability of syrup producers.
Food Programs Guide for Immigrant Families
Protecting Immigrant Families and partners have developed a one-page flier available in several languages that helps immigrant families navigate access to the most common food and nutrition programs, addressing specific concerns about eligibility, immigration status, and mixed-status families.
Eat Vermont App Launch
Eat Vermont has launched a new mobile app to help diners explore local businesses.
The app is currently available for free for 6 months, with no automatic charge or renewal, if you sign up by March 31 using this link.
Learn more in this MNBC5 article
Grant & Financing Opportunities
Farm to School & Early Childhood Vision Grant
The Farm to School & Early Childhood Vision Grant expands farm to school and early childhood programming in Vermont by amplifying innovative work in individual school communities, strengthening farm to school support services, and reaching underserved school and early childhood communities. Strong proposals will improve child nutrition, enhance educational experiences, and connect youth with the land, local farms, and their local community.
Grant Application Due Date: April 10th
Business Builder Sub Awards
The Northeast Regional Food Business Center recently launched the first round of Business Builder sub-awards, designed to strengthen local and regional food systems by providing direct funding to small- and mid-sized farm and food
businesses. $10 million will be made available in this round, with awards ranging from $15,000 to $100,000 to support businesses in scaling their operations, expanding markets and connecting various segments of the regional food supply chain.
Applications due April 7
Emergency Conservation Program Assistance for Caledonia County Producers
The Caledonia/Essex County Farm Service Agency has available assistance for producers who suffered severe damage from high winds from 8/9/24 - 8/10/24.
For land to be eligible, the natural disaster must create new conservation problems that, if untreated, would:
- be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use
- is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area
- affect the productive capacity of the farmland
- impair or endanger the land
If you’ve suffered a loss from the flooding or severe storm, contact County USDA Service Center at (802) 748 2641and request assistance from 03/03/2025 to 05/02/2025.
School Compost and Recycling Action Plan Institute
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and Long Creek Resources just launched the School Compost and Recycling Program Institute.
Schools interested in reducing waste, enhancing recycling efforts, improving food waste management, and integrating sustainable materials management into school culture are encouraged to apply!
Accepted school teams will attend 2 immersive day-long workshops on June 30th and July 28th, 2025 to collaborate with experts to develop Action Plans.
Participating schools will receive at least $3500 in funding to implement their Action Plans in the following year, as well as ongoing mentorship.
Applications Close April 1, 2025
Seeking 2025 Farm to Plate Sponsors!
Your ad could be featured here!
Farm to Plate is looking for new sponsors in 2025. This is a perfect marketing opportunity for small businesses, and it helps us pay for events like our Annual Gathering. Sponsorship levels start at $100 and depending on the level, come with logo recognition, advertisements in the e-news, and free registration to the Gathering.
Click here to learn more about our sponsor levels
Interested in becoming a Vermont Farm to Plate sponsor?
Reach out to [email protected].
Visit and Post to the Farm to Plate Website
If you need help with web-related items, please reach out to [email protected].
NOTE: When updating your personal profile make sure you've selected "I want to be a Network Member" in your profile and select at least one Farm to Plate Network group to be a part of in order to be able to submit news, jobs, and events!
Farm to Plate Newsfeed
Food Solutions New England Entering A New Phase
Vermont Association of Conservation Districts Welcomes Michelle Monroe as New Executive Director
Registration Open for Northeast Farm to Institution Summit
New Business Builder Grant for Northeast Farm & Food Businesses
Request for Proposals: Local Data for Equitable Communities Grant Program
(Post a News Item Button will appear when you are logged into your user account.)
Food System Events and Workshops
March 15 & 16, Randolph Center: Maple Flavor and Grading Training
March 17, Randolph Center: 2025 Farmers Market Conference
March 18, online: Strengthening Local Food Economies in Rural America Webinar
March 20, Middlebury: Taste the Valley
March 20: Montpelier & online: Travel & Recreation Council Meeting - Agency of Commerce and Community Development
March 21, Vergennes: VT Gathering of Graziers Annual Meeting
March 22 & 23, South Royalton: Introduction to Butchering Pork
March 27, online: Drawing the Line in the New England Milkshed: Regional Zoning for Dairy Industry Preparedness Workshop
April 7 - April 9, Portland, ME: Northeast Farm to Institution Summit 2025
April 12, Morrisville: Salvation Farms' 2nd Annual Pie Breakfast!
April 28, Burlington: 40th Annual Vermont Tourism Summit
(Post an Event Button will appear at the bottom of the calendar when you are logged into your user account.)
Food System Jobs
Farmers Watershed Alliance, Precision Agriculture Specialist
Chittenden Solid Waste District, CSWD Drop-off Center Operators: Human Resources Coordinator, Full-time & Part-time, Maintenance Operator
Maple Wind Farm, Pasture-Based Livestock & Processing Crew, General Manager, Farm Fulfillment Associate
Center for an Agricultural Economy, Just Cut Production Assistant- Temporary
Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center: Full Season Head Baker, Teen Farm Fellowship Lead
Vermont Foodbank, Network Partner Support Coordinator, Director of Strategic Giving, Manager - Marketing and Communications, Finance Coordinator, Manager - IT Operations
Willing Hands, Garden Assistant
American Flatbread, Lareau Farm & Forest, Garden Crew Member
UVM Department of Plant and Soil Science, Vermont Bee Lab Technician Position
Community Harvest of Central Vermont, Administrative Manager
Vermont Community Garden Network, Garden Educator
Vermont Fresh Network: Executive Director
Honey Field Farm: Crew, Lead, and Coordinator positions on Vegetable, Greenhouse, Retail & Cut Flower teams
(Post a Job Button will appear at the bottom of the calendar when you are logged into your user account. Note, if you need a job removed or updated, please contact [email protected].)
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