Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vermonters Feeding Vermonters topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vermont Food Bank says $500,000 state grant helped buy $500,000 of local food; asks for larger FY27 funding
Summary
Agency and Vermont Food Bank reported the Vermonters Feeding Vermonters FY26 grant structure and results: $500,000 in FY26 state funding supported $500,000 of direct purchasing tied to $1,000,000 total purchases from Vermont farms; Food Bank seeks larger, multi‑year funding in FY27 to expand contracts with farmers.
State agency and food‑bank officials told the Senate Agriculture committee that a FY26 state appropriation of $500,000 supported direct purchasing from Vermont farms and that officials seek larger, recurring funding to expand the program.
Abby Willard of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets said Act 34 (2025) created a grant program at the agency to support the Vermont Food Bank’s efforts to purchase local food for distribution to people facing hunger. The FY26 appropriation to the agency for this purpose was $500,000; the agency established a grant agreement that targeted purchases of local food from Vermont farms to be distributed through the Food Bank’s partner network.
Program results: Chris Meehan, chief community impact officer at the Vermont Food Bank, reported the program purchased more than $1,000,000 from Vermont farmers year‑to‑date, including about $500,000 supported by the FY26 state appropriation. He said the Food Bank worked with 21 farmers, purchased more than 40 types of produce and distributed the food through over 236 partners and events. The Food Bank told the committee it uses a 40/40/20 distribution schedule for grant funds (40% up front, 40% at interim report, 20% withheld until final reporting) and that the state funds were targeted to large‑scale wholesale contracting and to purchase surplus and culturally responsive foods.
Budget ask and timing: Carrie Staylor reported the Food Bank is seeking $2,000,000 for FY27 (the FY27 request is part of a larger $5,000,000 package). A budget‑adjustment process under consideration included $360,000 in a Senate adjustment and $400,000 in a House adjustment; the organization hopes conference committee action will increase available funds. Food Bank officials emphasized that contract planning is seasonal and earlier commitments improve farmers’ ability to plan.
What the committee will do next: Committee members asked staff to follow up with appropriations and agriculture contacts to ensure committee advocacy aligns with the Food Bank’s contracting timelines. Officials said the Food Bank will submit an interim report timed to the committee’s reporting deadlines and a final report before 2026.
