2025 Legislative Updates: Good News for Our Local Food & Farm to School Efforts

As the legislative session wraps up, we are pleased to share that our requests for funding farm to school and early childhood programs in the state budget were included and signed by Governor Scott. We’re grateful to our legislative champions for recognizing the importance of nourishing all our children with fresh, local food while supporting the farmers, educators, and school nutrition teams who make it possible.

In addition to Vermont’s  Farm to School and Early Childhood Grants program and the state’s Local Food Incentive, we successfully advocated for one-time funding for Local Food for Schools and Child Care, the program that was abruptly terminated by USDA in March.

Here's a brief summary of the investments supported this year:

• Local Food for Schools & Child Care (LFSCC): the budget includes one-time funding of $500,000 to support the LFSCC program, which was cut at the federal level in March. The funding supports purchasing local foods and its distribution to schools and early childhood; the vast majority of these funds go directly into the hands of Vermont farmers and producers. While this is not the full funding originally allocated by the USDA, it is a meaningful and much-needed investment.
• Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Grant Program: these grants to support schools and early childhood were level-funded at $500,000. They  also provide direct technical assistance to farmers, educators, and school nutrition professionals to help our youth learn about where their food comes from.
• Vermont Local Foods Incentive Program: the program offers schools financial support for purchasing local food and directing more dollars to Vermont producers. The program was level-funded at $500,000. Last year’s grantees reported spending about $1.2 million on local foods( 2023-24 school year).
• CACFP Sponsorship: the legislature allocated $150k to Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsorship organizations. This funding will make it possible for the organizations that administer the CACFP to continue doing so, allowing for continued access for kids in child care programs to nutritional meals and snacks.
• Universal School Meals: The Vermont Legislature protected Universal School Meals! Vermont students will continue to be able to count on breakfast and lunch, at no cost, every day in school.

This funding is a step forward; we know it doesn’t  solve every challenge. Our local food systems, schools and school meal programs continue to operate under immense pressure, and hard decisions lie ahead. Still, this investment signals hope and momentum — it reminds us that Vermont remains committed to building a future where every child, farmer, and community can thrive.

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy and commitment, it makes a big difference. Together, we will keep moving this work forward.

Want to learn more? Explore our advocacy campaigns and get involved by reaching out to our Policy & Demand Action Team.

Watch testimonies from the students, teachers, school nutrition professionals, producers, and farmers who spoke up for farm to school: