Vermont presentation: local food sales equal about 10% of $4.8B food market as farmland and farm acres decline

A representative of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, speaking through the Farm to Plate program, told lawmakers on Oct. 12 that Vermont residents spend roughly $4.8 billion a year on food and that local food accounts for about 10.1% of that total.

Why it matters: the presentation drew a line from where Vermonters buy food to what policies and investments could expand market opportunities for local producers while also protecting farmland and improving water quality.

The presenter said grocery stores and restaurants account for nearly 70% of where food dollars are spent in the state, and that retail grocery remains the single largest channel for local-food purchases. “That’s why we’ve focused attention in the retail grocery environment,” the representative said, noting the program’s work with independent grocers and food co‑ops to increase their local purchasing. The presenter added that direct sales — sales directly from farms to consumers, institutions, retailers or food hubs — have grown substantially and that USDA accounting changes have increased the measured value of direct sales.

Key figures and trends reported - Total food spending in Vermont: about $4.8 billion (approximate). - Local food share: 10.1% of total food spending (about one in every $10). - Direct sales: rose from about $22 million in 2007 to nearly $43 million in 2022; direct sales into retail, institutions and food hubs exceed $100 million; combined direct channels were reported at about $143 million in 2022. The presenter said direct-to-retail and direct-to-institution channels grew about 86% from 2017 to 2022. -…