The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is no longer in line to receive anticipated federal funding, which would have helped Vermont farms feed their local communities in 2025.
On Friday, March 7, 2025, VAAFM received termination notices for two cooperative agreements from our USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) program contacts for the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA25) and Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) programs. The termination notices read, in part:
“AMS has determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate.”
Between 2022 and 2024, VAAFM received $1,351,726 through these programs, which has helped Vermont schools and communities buy local food from over 100 Vermont farms.
USDA announced the availability of additional funding for these programs on October 1, 2024. In early January 2025, Vermont signed two cooperative agreements totaling $1,720,160 for both LFSCC ($1,222,076) and LFPA25 ($498,027). Both programs were slated to begin implementation later in 2025.
This termination notice does not impact currently active LFPA Plus projects.
Business Skills Course for Working Lands Businesses
Vermont farm, food, and forest businesses are invited to join a free training program provided by Paul Frank + Collins, a local law firm. The trainings will emphasize the development of basic human resources skills for managers. Participants will also receive individualized legal services to ensure compliance with various employment laws.
The program will run from April to November.
Apply by March 28th
Survey of Farms Open to Visitors
Does your farm allow visitors? Do you have polutry? If so, please take this short survey! Participation is completely anonymous, and you will be supporting research about biosecurity practices on farms open to the public.
The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and you will be entered into a random drawing for one of 10 gift cards worth $50. We hope that you will take a few moments to help us gather data to support agritourism.
Take the survey
Join the Vermont Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show
Calling all Vermont specialty foods businesses! The Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Vermont Specialty Foods Association invite you to join us in exhibiting at a Vermont Pavilion at the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show, taking place in New York City from June 29th to July 1st.
The Summer Fancy Food Show is one of the premier business-to-business trade shows for specialty food products. Buyers, distributors, and wholesalers from all over the world attend the show each year.
We have up to twenty 10' x 10' booths available within the Vermont Pavilion, with options for larger booths as well. Booth costs are $47 per square foot.
Learn more & reserve your spot
Business Builder Grant for Farms & Food Businesses
The Business Builder sub-awards are designed to strengthen local and regional food systems by providing direct funding to small- and mid-sized farm and food businesses in the Northeast.
$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 segments of the regional food supply chain.
Applicants must have either $1 million or less in annual sales or $350,000 or less in annual sales, depending on the funding track. Projects must be focused on food produced regionally for human consumption.
Apply by April 7th
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
April
4/10 - Dairy Co-packing Grant deadline
4/10 - Farm to School and Early Childhood Vision Grant deadline
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620
https://agriculture.vermont.gov
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