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Lawmakers Hear Testimony Urging Funding for 3 Squares Vermont, Crop Cash and Food‑security Programs
Summary
Farmers, food‑bank leaders and state program staff told a legislative committee that funding for 3 Squares Vermont (SNAP) administration and incentive programs such as Crop Cash and Crop Cash Plus supports both food access and local farm economies; presenters asked for $500,000 for local farm incentives and $5 million for statewide food‑security appropriations.
A legislative committee heard more than two hours of testimony from farmers, food‑bank leaders and program staff pressing for state support of 3 Squares Vermont (the state name for SNAP) and related farm‑support programs.
Joanna Doran, local food access director with NOFA Vermont, told the committee she and partner organizations brought three requests: $500,000 in ongoing funding for programs that help channel SNAP dollars to farmers (Crop Cash, Crop Cash Plus and FarmShare); a $5,000,000 total appropriation for fiscal 2027 for the Vermont Food Bank (with $2,000,000 for partner networks, $2,000,000 for a student/Vermonters program and $1,000,000 for readiness and emergency response); and funding for administration of the 3 Squares Vermont program to counter recent federal changes.
"3 Squares Vermont helps nearly 10% of our state buy groceries every month," Doran said. "That's approximately 63,400 people." She said Crop Cash and Crop Cash Plus both increase SNAP recipients' ability to spend…
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