The Network is devastated to learn that the federal government has canceled the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) program, which was intended to provide $660 million in funding nationwide. We must make our voices heard at the Federal level to push back against this decision.

 

Earlier this year, the USDA entered into a cooperative agreement with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets for $1,222,076 in LFSCC funding for Vermont. This included:

  • $944,226 designated for Vermont schools, planned to be distributed through local food hubs, similar to the previous Local Food for Schools (LFS) grant.
  • $277,850 designated for early childhood programs.

Vermont was actively developing its implementation plan and had convened dozens of partners to determine the most effective use of these funds.

 

On March 7, 2025 the USDA abruptly announced the termination of the program.

As a result, Vermont schools and early childhood programs will not receive these critical funds for the upcoming school year. This loss comes at a time when food costs are expected to rise, and the funding would have expanded local purchasing, supported Vermont farmers, and strengthened our farm to school programs.

100% of the $1.2 million was dedicated to food purchases, and would have gone directly into the hands of Vermont farmers and producers. 

Every dollar spent on local food generates an additional $1.60 in economic activity for Vermont. This funding would have benefited farmers, food hubs, distributors, local processors, and rural communities, keeping money circulating in our state’s food economy.

Download our handout to learn more

 

We Need Your Voice!

We are actively coordinating our response and want to hear from those impacted. Farmers, children, and school and early childhood communities will feel this loss directly. We need immediate action to bring attention to the detrimental impact of cancelling grant dollars.

Action Steps to Get Involved:

  1. Speak up for Local Food in Schools and Child Care!
  2. Share your story and help us illustrate the real impact of this cut.
  3. Join the Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network Open Call: We will be holding an open call on Wednesday March 19 at noon to discuss the funding cut, potential actions, and hear directly from those impacted. Register here.
  4. If you are impacted by recent cuts to USDA’s budget, share your experience with Vermont’s congressional delegation. Here are tips for direct outreach.
  5. Share this information with your networks, farmers, educators, parents, and advocates need to understand what’s at stake.

 

When we invest in school meal and child nutrition programs, we invest in our students, our farmers, and our local economies.

These and other funding cuts are causing significant harm and creating uncertainty for Vermont farmers and farming organizations. Payments that farmers were either contracted to receive or expecting to receive through USDA programs have been frozen or cancelled (including deeply needed investments in climate resiliency, conservation practices, and more). Staff at local NRCS, FSA, and research agencies have been unlawfully terminated, and the looming threat of tariffs is making planning for the upcoming growing season extremely stressful.

 

This Story in the News