Food & Farm Initiative

Vibrant. The local food movement in Vermont is simply vibrant. There are more farmers’ markets per capita here than just about anywhere in the country. And we’re a national leader in direct sales from farmers to consumers. But while there is tremendous energy behind local food, there are still many Vermonters who don’t have access to, can’t afford, or don’t know how to make use of the foods produced here. That includes the 13% of Vermont families and one in five Vermont children who don’t have access to the food required to meet their basic nutritional needs. We can do better.

Our Goal

The Community Foundation’s Food and Farm Initiative supports farmers and helps all families access nutritious, local food regardless of where they live, what they earn, or how much they cook.

We’re committed to this. Through partnerships, research, gatherings, grants, and investments, we want to create a nationally-recognized food system that helps more Vermont families enjoy the benefits of local food while opening up new markets for local farmers’ products. And with the help of our many partners in the community, we think we can collectively do it within five years.

Getting Started: Expanding Farm to School

“Food Systems” is a big concept that affects Vermonters every day. In such a system, there are many opportunities where coordinated philanthropy can make a difference, but Farm to School programs stand out as an especially good place to start.

Learn about what we're working on during the first two years