Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Education, in partnership with the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, recognized 12 supervisory unions (SU/SDs) that have achieved the highest rates of local purchasing through the 2025 round of the Local Foods Incentive Grant program. Through continued collaboration, schools, farms, community groups, and the state are building partnerships that support local economies and bring healthy, local food to Vermont students.
The 2025 awards mark a doubling of grantees, up from six in 2024 as the program enters its fourth year. Of those who applied for the subsequent-year grant, $288,338.10 was awarded, incentivizing over $1.2 million in local food purchases.
“This program reflects what makes Vermont’s education system special,” said Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders. “Students aren’t just being fed, they’re engaging with their communities, learning about Vermont’s natural and agricultural heritage, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the place they call home.”
Districts that purchased at least 15% local foods will receive a grant award ranging from $0.15 to $0.25 per lunch served, depending on their local purchasing percentage. In real dollars, grant awards typically range from $20,000 to $40,000 per SU/SD.
In order to receive a subsequent-year grant, applicants must achieve at least a 15% local purchasing percentage. Of those that applied, twelve reached that threshold:
- Windham Northeast Supervisory Union- 25%
- Harwood Unified Union School District - 23%
- Mountain Views Supervisory Union - 20%
- Mt. Abraham Unified School District - 18%
- Addison Northwest School District - 15%
- Central Vermont Supervisory Union - 18%
- Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union- 18%
- Rivendell Interstate School District - 17%
- Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union- 17%
- Lamoille North Supervisory Union- 16%
- Essex Westford School District - 15%
- Lamoille South Supervisory Union - 15%
“Getting to 15% local has been a steady journey of building partnerships and reshaping our approach to school nutrition” said Essex Westford School District’s Director of Child Nutrition Scott Fay. “The Local Foods Incentive gave us the boost we needed to turn those efforts into real impact for both students and producers.”
Applications will open this fall for the 2026 round of the Local Foods Incentive and are due on December 9.
About the Local Foods Incentive Grant
This grant program, launched in 2021, aims to expand equitable access to high-quality education by supporting local food purchasing in schools, recognizing that nutritious meals are key to student success and benefit Vermont’s economy. In the first year, grants help schools establish local purchasing systems. In following years, funding is tied to performance: schools purchasing 15%, 20%, or 25% of food locally receive an extra 15, 20, or 25 cents per meal, respectively. Other districts are learning from early recipients to expand local purchasing in future grant cycles.
October is National Farm to School Month. Each year, schools, early care centers, farms, and organizations across the country celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients. In Vermont, the Local Foods Inventive and Farm to School and Early Childhood grants open.
About the Vermont Agency of Education
The Agency of Education implements state and federal laws, policies, and regulations to ensure all Vermont learners have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities. The Agency accomplishes this mission through the provision of its leadership, support, and oversight of Vermont’s public education system.
Connect with the Vermont Agency of Education education.vermont.gov.
About the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) facilitates, supports and encourages the growth and viability of agriculture in Vermont while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers and the environment.
For more, please visit the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets website at agriculture.vermont.gov.
10.15.2025. Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
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