Food Security is a Policy Choice
The Vermont Food Security Coalition is in the Vermont Statehouse to advance impactful policies that move us down the road to food security.
We advance policies to sustainably fund current programs. We also advance policies that must be created in order for Vermonters to be fully food secure. There is a role for every one of us in advancing strong food security policy. If you are curious and want to get involved, please join us!
A long and eventful 2026 legislative session wrapped up in early June. Thanks to the hard work of Food Security Members and Allies, advocates, Legislators, and community members, we were able to make progress on all of our Food Security Coalition’s policy slate. Read on to learn about dollars that will ensure the best outcomes for Vermonters in light of federal changes to benefit programs, two new state funds for emergency response, and more. The session held many twists and turns on the road to food security, and we are grateful to be on that road together.
2026 Food Security Coalition Policy Outcomes
Land Access & Opportunity Board
The Land Access & Opportunity Board received a $1.6 million base appropriation in the budget. LAOB has statutory powers and duties to improve land and housing access among historically marginalized or disadvantaged communities in Vermont, and the funds ensure their advisory and grant-making work will continue to serve Vermonters.
Local Food Security at Farmers Markets & CSAs
The legislature allocated $350,000 for the Farm Share, Crop Cash, and Crop Cash Plus programs at NOFA-VT. Funds will allow these programs to continue to serve both our low-income shoppers who want local food and our farmers who are growing that food.
Vermont Foodbank
The budget included two appropriations to support the needs of neighbors and Foodbank’s Network of partner food shelves and meal sites serving people’s basic food needs. A $250,000 allocation to the Vermonter Feeding Vermonters grant program will allow the Foodbank to purchase Vermont-grown food directly from farms and distribute it through Vermont Foodbank’s Network. $550,000 was allocated to the General Fund for direct aid to the Vermont Foodbank’s network partners through an equitable statewide distribution of food or subgrants, or both.
3SquaresVT/SNAP funding
3SquaresVT/SNAP funding: Full funding was included in the budget to ensure the Agency of Human Services had the administrative resources needed to operate 3SquaresVT, in light of a 25% reduction in federal funding. This means that Vermont protected the operation of this program for the 60,000 shoppers who tap into it, and the 600+ grocers and farmers who depend on it for their bottom lines.
Benefit Assisters
$3.5 million was allocated for 3SquaresVT and Medicaid benefit assistance at service-providing organizations to help Vermonters navigate complex changes to eligibility and paperwork requirements for both programs. This investment supports the best outcomes for Vermonters by ensuring all eligible people are able to stay enrolled in these important benefit programs AND keeps federal dollars in our state.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
A total of $157,000 was appropriated to increase access to meals and snacks in child care settings. This money will allow sponsor organizations to continue operating the CACFP for Family Child Care Homes and start outreach to bring the CACFP to even more providers.
Ready Response
H. 935 establishes the Ready Response program within the Division of Emergency Management. “Ready response” means the provision of short-term food and bottled water resources during emergency events. The program will award an annual grant to an eligible food bank to source, store, and distribute shelf-stable, ready-to-eat foods and bottled water, thus better preparing Vermont communities for emergency situations.
Farm & Forestry Operations Security Special Fund
Vermont now has a Fund to ensure farmers and loggers have financial assistance they need to recover from the impacts of extreme weather. We all rely on farms, and we are all responsible for supporting farmers as they face increased climate instability, particularly as Vermont’s small, diversified farms are left out of federal programs designed to stabilize agriculture in times of crisis. We will continue to work to appropriate money to the fund
Working Lands Enterprise Fund
This effective grantmaking program received $1 million in the budget. The Fund increases capacity for in-state production by helping businesses to grow, and demand has outstripped the funds available for many years.