The Farm to Plate Network

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Network Resources

The Farm to Plate Network is responsible for collectively implementing the 25 Farm to Plate goals of Vermont’s food system plan as well as advancing their own organizational goals. The Network encompasses farms, food production businesses, specialty food producers, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, capital providers and government. Working Groups, Cross-cutting Teams, and Task Forces convene to work on high impact projects to relocalize the food system that no one organization can do alone, as well as assess gaps, opportunities, and trends and monitor progress towards reaching Vermont’s Farm to Plate goals.

The Network section of the website outlines the Network groups and acts as the communication forum for Network members to share information, send messages, keep up-to-date on Farm to Plate activities, and stay connected to each other. A login is required for Network members to access full information in this section of the website. 

In 2021, the Farm to Plate Network structure of implementation groups will be re-organized to reflect the high priority recommendations / strategies coming out of the new Farm to Plate Strategic Plan 2021-2030.

Working Group Working Groups

Title Description Task Forces
Aggregation and Distribution The Aggregation and Distribution Working Group focuses on aggregation, processing, storage and distribution strategies that expand linkages between locally produced and processed food and the full range of market outlets (e.g., schools, hospitals, grocery stores, etc.). Farm to Institution
Independent Grocers
Consumer Education and Marketing The Consumer Education and Marketing Working Group focuses on strategies which improve consumer’s ability to find, purchase, and use local foods. Efforts to increase local and regional food marketing, enhance consumer education and awareness, and expand agritourism opportunities are central to the group, as well as to ensure these efforts reach Vermonters at all income levels. Agritourism
Communications and Marketing Community of Practice
Rooted in Vermont®
Education and Workforce Development The Education and Workforce Development Working Group focuses on strategies which will improve and enhance K-12 education (including core STEM curriculum and career and technical education), higher education, adult and continuing education, and internship/apprenticeship programs that lead to careers in the food system. It also works on strategies which address food system workforce needs and labor issues with a particular focus on the partnerships between education, businesses and workforce agencies. Career Pathways & Image
Business-Education Partnerships
Farmland Access and Stewardship The Farmland Access and Stewardship Working Group focuses on strategies that expand farmland conservation, increase farmers’ access to affordable farmland, and promote best practices around agricultural land use and soil and water quality. Farmland Access
Production and Processing The F2P Production & Processing Working Group is open to all members of the Farm to Plate Network. It is focused on developing and improving the resources available to Vermont's food producers and processors to support improvements in their production, their business management skills, and their quality of life. Members are expected to largely be made up of representatives of key organizational stakeholders that provide business services, technical assistance, financing or other assistance to producers and processors; production and processing business owners; and representatives from producer and processor associations. Farm Viability Indicators Task Force

Cross-Cutting TeamCross-Cutting Teams

Title Description Task Forces
Energy The Energy Crosscutting Team explores and promotes strategies related to the expansion of on-farm energy production (e.g., bioenergy, solar, wind) as well as the deployment of energy efficiency improvements for farms and food system businesses.
Financing The Financing Crosscutting Team is made up of a diverse array of capital providers who are assessing financing gaps, identifying new funding opportunities, and promoting creative funding arrangements that will advance the development of Vermont’s food system enterprises. Slow Money Vermont
Food Access The Food Access Crosscutting Team connects organizations working on food security, food access, and nutrition issues, assesses how well food access issues are being integrated into Farm to Plate Network Working Groups, and works to ensure that local food is accessible to low income Vermonters in every corner of the state. The team works to integrate Food Justice and Racial Equity into their discussions and in the Vermont Farm to Plate Network. They make a special efforts to explore new opportunities for collaboration with working groups. Food Access Planning
Food Justice
Food Cycle Coalition A statewide campaign to divert food and other organic materials from the landfill through food rescue, composting, animal feed utilization and energy production.
Health The Health Crosscutting Team works to better connect the food system and the health care system by: Promoting health care settings as a viable venue for local food; Supporting local food system programs that improve health outcomes (produce prescription programs, workplace wellness CSAs, etc.); and Better understanding the role local food systems play in improving the health of Vermonters.
Research The Research Crosscutting Team tracks current food system related research projects across the state, identifies Farm to Plate research needs, and identifies collaborative research opportunities across institutions and organizations.

Steering Committee Steering Committee

Title Description
Steering Committee The Steering Committee provides overall network governance and guidance for the Farm to Plate Network. It is responsible for identifying gaps in strategies, developing processes for learning, helping organize the annual F2P Network Gathering, and shaping the evolution of the Network over time. It is comprised of following members: working group chairs, co-chairs of the Food Access cross cutting team, the Secretary of Agriculture or designee, the Secretary of Commerce or designee, a representative of the Vermont Food Funders Network, and a representative of the Sustainable Agriculture Council. The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund serves as the Network Coordinator -- or Backbone Organization -- for the whole Farm to Plate Initiative.