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Farm to Plate Network
The Farm to Plate Network is responsible for collectively implementing the 15 Strategic Goals of Vermont’s 2021-2030 food system plan, as well as advancing organizational goals of members. The Network encompasses farms, food production businesses, specialty food producers, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, capital providers, and government. Priority Strategy Teams (PSTs), Topic Exchanges, and Communities of Practice 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 Strategic Goals. If you're not a Farm to Plate Network Member yet - join us! It's free and easy to do.
Understanding the Network
Learn more about the history and framework of the Farm to Plate Network. The Retrospective examines the first 10 years of history and evolution of the F2P Network. Annual Reports provide summaries of what happened in any particular year along the way. VSJF's website gives further context about the role of VSJF in administering the Farm to Plate Plate Investment Program and the F2P Network.
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Retrospective: The First Ten Years
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Annual Reports
Network Structure
The interactive Network diagram provides a visual representation of the network structure
and brief explanations of the different group types of the F2P Network in its current form. Hover over the group names to learn more about the purpose and function of each group type.
Network Groups
Below is the full list of individual Network groups, organized by group type i.e., Priority Strategy Teams, Topic Exchanges, and Communities of Practice. Each group has an individual landing page that provides information about what the group is working on, next meeting dates, group membership, and resources they've created. To join a group, you must create a profile and join the Network.
Priority Strategy Teams
The Aggregation, Distribution, and Storage Infrastructure PST (Priority Strategy Team) is tasked with helping to implement "Priority Strategy 2: Make significant investments in storage, processing, and distribution infrastructure in order to enhance product innovation and quality across all Vermont food...
The Agroforestry PST (Priority Strategy Team) will work collaboratively to implement the following: Priority Strategy 2 - "Establish funding mechanisms...to address specific food system investment gaps." Priority Strategy 7 - "Make significant investment in storage, processing, and distribution infrastructure in...
The Financing for Farmland Access PST (Priority Strategy Team) is focused on issues related to cost, accessibility and equity in relation to farmland in Vermont. They are tasked with implementing Priority Strategy 9 included in the Vermont Agriculture and Food...
The Food Security PST (Priority Strategy Team) is tasked with implementing "Priority Strategy 24: Develop a Vermont food security plan, centered around a thriving food system and inspired by community-based responses to food insecurity and disruptive events". The plan will...
The Food/Agricultural Literacy PST (Priority Strategy Team) is tasked with implementing Priority Strategy 19: "Support and expand existing farm and food education, programming, and convene partners and conduct research to: identify the distinct audiences and goals for various initiatives; determine...
The Marketing Priority Strategy Team (PST) is tasked with implementing "Priority Strategy 17: Help individual farms and food businesses reach new customers by developing tailored marketing assistance services and programs specific to various market channels. Funding could go to individual...
The Meat Supply PST (Priority Strategy Team), focusing on supply value chain development of Vermont's meat and livestock industries, is tasked with helping to implement "Priority Strategy 6: To increase the availability of local meat, improve productivity and processing capacity...
The Policy PST (Priority Strategy Team) is tasked with implementing "Priority Strategy 30: Build a comprehensive and fully aligned state-level agricultural policy roadmap". The roadmap is intended to provide a means to annually review existing and proposed policy objectives, get...
The Racial Equity Action Plan PST (Priority Strategy Team) is tasked with helping to implement "Priority Strategy 33: Plan, commit to, and prioritize actions—within the Farm to Plate Network and at all food system organizations—to begin eradicating structural racism in...
The Retail Grocers Priority Strategy Team (PST) is tasked with implementing the retail grocery market aspects of: Priority Strategy 17: Help individual farms and food businesses reach new customers by developing tailored marketing assistance services and programs specific to various...
The Technical Assistance Capacity Team is tasked with helping to implement "Priority Strategy 12: Fund at least 25 FTE additional technical assistance provider positions to assist farmers and other food producers with product-specific needs (e.g. goats, grans) and other forms...
Topic Exchanges
The Climate, Soil, and Environment Exchange helps to facilitate communication, exchange of information, and to build connectivity and relationships amongst members who share an interest and/or knowledge of climate change, soil science and health, and other environmental issues such as...
The Education, Workforce and Labor Topic Exchange focuses on strategies and the development of resources to 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...
The Food Security Topic Exchange helps to facilitate communication, exchange of information, and to build connectivity and relationships amongst members who share an interest and/or knowledge of food security in Vermont. This group will include issues previously addressed in Food...
The Full Network Exchange periodically brings together the entire Network to learn about what's happening across all areas of the food system, helping to foster cross-cutting issue awareness, new connections, and system level dialogue and strategic action. Full Network Exchange...
The Land Access and Land Use Topic Exchange helps to facilitate communication, exchange of information, and to build connectivity and relationships amongst members who share an interest and/or knowledge of land related issues in Vermont. This group will include issues...
The Production, Processing, & Market Development Exchange helps to facilitate communication, exchange of information, and to build connectivity and relationships amongst members who share an interest and/or knowledge of agricultural production, food processing, and food system market development. The Production...
Communities of Practice
The Agritourism CoP (Community of Practice) brings together professionals and practitioners including both statewide and sub-state regional organizations to advance Vermont’s culinary and agricultural tourism industry and communicate the state's agricultural story. In the prior Farm to Plate Network structure...
The CSA and Healthcare CoP (Community of Practice) brings together professionals and practitioners 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...
The Farm Viability Indicators Task Force seeks to aggregate and develop standardized information on the viability of various business models and scales as a way to increase diffusion of best practices and industry benchmarks, diagnose the viability of individual businesses...
The Food Cycle CoP (Community of Practice) is comprised of organizations and individuals committed to building healthy and resilient communities where no one is hungry and no resource is wasted. This group was in existence in the previous Farm to...
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...