Vermont Agriculture & Food System Plan 2021-2030

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2021-2030 strategic plan

Over the past ten years since the release of the first Farm to Plate Strategic Plan, Vermont’s food system economic output expanded 48%, from $7.5 billion to $11.3 billion, which includes $3 billion (26.5%) from food manufacturing—Vermont’s second-largest manufacturing industry. The food system added 6,560 net new jobs (11.3% increase), and more than 64,000 Vermonters were directly employed by over 11,500 farms and food-related businesses. Local food purchases rose from $114 million (5%) to $310 million (13.9%) of the total $2.2 billion spent on food in the state annually, and Vermont farms sold $781 million worth of product per year.

Recognizing the success of the first Plan and the continued importance of agriculture and food to Vermont’s economy, environment, and culture, the Vermont Legislature and Governor Scott reauthorized the Farm to Plate Investment Program in 2019, and in doing so set in motion the development of Vermont's second 10-year strategic food system plan - the Vermont Agriculture & Food System Strategic Plan 2021-2030 which was published February 8, 2021 and was delivered to the Vermont State Legislature on February 11, 2021.

The 2021-2030 Plan contains a vision for Vermont's food system in 2030, 15 strategic goals with 87 objectives, and 34 priority strategies (recommendations for action). It is based on a series of 54 food system product, market, and issue briefs highlighting current conditions, bottlenecks and gaps, opportunities, and recommendations.

The contents of the Plan were shaped by farmers, food entrepreneurs and workers, government personnel and elected officials, nonprofit organizations, technical and business assistance providers, educators, researchers, capital providers, and Vermont food consumers. Over 1,500 people, from all of these groups, contributed to the development of this plan over an 18-month period.

Resources in this collection

Component Files

A listing of capital providers who help to finance farm and food businesses, including debt, equity, and royalty financing, as well as various grant programs.
This map was generated by the VAAFM in support of the Major Metropolitan Markets brief.
This table, which is also contained in the Supplemental Materials of the Plan, documents the relationships between briefs and the final Plan. The Plan's 34 priority strategies are derived from...
Section 1 of Act 83 (S.160), an act relating to agricultural development, calls for the development of this report with recommendations to stabilize and revitalize Vermont’s agricultural industry.
Contains end notes and data citations for all product, market, and issue briefs.
This file does not include the 54 product, market, and issue briefs, which are available separately.
The Plan contains a vision for Vermont's food system in 2030, 15 strategic goals, and 34 priority strategies. It is based on a series of 54 food system product, market...

Issue Briefs

Properly capitalized farms and food businesses are critical for a healthy food system. Food system businesses need different kinds of capital depending on their stage of growth, scale of operation...
Agricultural literacy and food literacy are important because increased knowledge of agriculture and food can help Vermonters make informed choices, as both consumers and civic actors, that support their health...
Almost everything we eat, wear, or use comes from a plant or animal on a farm, but we are losing the knowledge of how to grow food, work on farms...
Public policy is generally described as a system of laws, regulatory measures, courses of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic, promulgated by a government entity or its representatives...
Agritourism is a promising sub-sector of Vermont’s agricultural economy, encompassing direct-to-consumer sales of local food (e.g., farm stands, pick-your-own), agricultural education (e.g., school visits and workshops on farms), hospitality (e.g...
Vermont will have a substantial transfer of agricultural land over the next decade. Prioritizing creative approaches to farmland ownership and access will create farming opportunities for more people, including historically...
Water quality regulations, market changes, low farm gate prices, and increased competition are all challenging the profitability and future viability of Vermont farms and food businesses across most production types...
Child care is fundamental to household economics, and therefore farm economics. Farmers with children must continuously negotiate access to affordable child care as the needs of their children and families...
Vermont will face considerable disruption to the local food system and farm profitability and viability because of climate change.1 In addition, the significant impact of climate change on global food...
Consumer demand for local, organic, and specialty foods have surged over the last ten years, helping Vermont’s agricultural vitality. As these markets are maturing, slowing growth and increased competition are...
Over the past 40 years, Vermont made substantial investment and progress in farmland conservation, permanently conserving 15-20% of the state’s farmland. Farmers have greatly benefited from ongoing, coordinated conservation efforts...
All Vermont residents should have access to nutritious local foods they can afford, and Vermont farms should all be profitable. However, many people in our state struggle with the rising...
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for...
Access to physical and mental health care is directly connected to farm viability and quality of life. Health care costs and the cost of living have far outpaced gains in...
Vermont’s farm and food economy gained 742 net new businesses between 2010-2017, and economic output expanded 48% from $7.5 billion to $11.3 billion between 2007-2017. Despite this growth, these businesses...
Land use planning is an important tool for aligning settlement patterns and natural resource management with Vermont residents’ values. Community-level plans and policies affect many concrete land management and development...
Over the past 20 years, the local food category evolved from an emerging to a maturing market. In a mature market, the rate of growth for the category slows, and...
Ecosystem services are the “ecosystem functions that are useful to humans.” Agricultural landscapes in Vermont can be managed to enhance ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, climate regulation, biodiversity, and...
Vermont must work towards racial equity in its food system in order to make the food system truly sustainable for everyone. Equity is “the condition that would be achieved when...
At a time when Vermont farms are facing downturns in prices and markets — and most are challenged to be profitable — farms are also set to transfer to new...
Vermont is facing a dramatic shift in the agricultural sector due to economic and demographic changes. The key to the maintenance and development of the farms that form the backbone...
The tax and legal issues confronting existing and new farm businesses, new farm-based food enterprises, and farms in transition to the next generation are increasingly complex. Food safety, farm labor...
Our challenge is to find a path forward in Vermont agriculture that allows for food production while protecting water quality. Agriculture dominates Vermont’s working landscape in many parts of the...

Market Briefs

Colleges and universities, hospitals, and other health care facilities have a significant role to play in supporting Vermont’s farm and food sector. They are important community anchors, serving as employers...
Over a quarter of Vermont farms (1,833) sell directly to consumers through farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and other “direct market” channels.1 Direct markets are critical because they allow...
Distribution encompasses how Vermont farms and food manufacturers get products to consumers in the state and region. Without a robust and efficient distribution system that provides cost-effective options to get...
Retail food stores, from village markets to food cooperatives (co-ops) to national chain supermarkets, are the primary sales outlet for Vermont farm and food businesses of all sizes and scales...
Vermont currently has 6,800 farms and 1.2 million acres in agricultural production, with a farm-gate value of roughly $781 million dollars, and in 2017, Vermont’s food manufacturers generated $3 billion...
From mom-and-pop diners to high-end establishments, restaurants play a key role in shaping the way consumers eat and think about food. They also play a role in the success of...
Teaching Vermont students the value of Vermont food for both their own health and their community is an investment in future generations who will support agricultural policy, buy local, consider...

Product Briefs

Vermont’s 4.465 million acres of forest cover around 73% of its territory. If we are to address the critical moment facing Vermont agriculture, sustainable agroforestry should be among the solutions...
Apples in Vermont are behind only dairy and maple in total annual crop value. Since the 1990s, Vermont’s share of all apples sold to eastern U.S. wholesale markets has decreased...
In 2019, Vermont’s 68 breweries had $366 million in economic impact. Vermont brewers capture international accolades and are a powerful force for Vermont’s food reputation, attracting consumers to Vermont-made beers...
The pollination services of wild and managed bees are critical for the production of our food crops. However, managed and wild bees are in decline, due to a multitude of...
Vermont is well-known for its bakeries, from artisanal bakeries to nationally distributed brands. Finding locally grown grains that are suitable for making good bread has been a long-term challenge for...
Vermont boasts more state-inspected cheese producers per capita than any other state in the nation — close to one cheese maker for 13,000 people — generating more than $657 million...
Critical goals are achieved when food scraps, manure, and other organic materials are removed from the waste stream and transformed into compost. Composting operations benefit the environment, create jobs, produce...
For generations, Vermont has been defined by dairy, an industry that has an economic impact of $2.2 billion annually and adds nearly $3 million in circulating cash daily. Wherever you...
Farm-fresh eggs have long been a popular choice for consumers looking to support local farms, and an inexpensive source of high-quality protein. Eggs have a relatively low cost of entry...
Consumers are concerned about where their food comes from, yet may not realize that the majority of local grain-based products (e.g., flour, bread, baked goods, beer, and spirits) are not...
Vermont has driven growth in the artisanal cheese industry over the last 40 years. Today there are a dozen Vermont goat cheese brands, including the number two national brand of...