January 19, 2021 | Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces grant funds to strengthen Vermont’s specialty crop industries. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture crops (including honey, hops, and maple syrup), and nursery crops (including Christmas trees and floriculture).
Montpelier, Vt. - The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund through its Farm to Plate Initiative, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) have released the Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan 2021-2030. With over 1,500 Vermonters providing input and helping to shape its content over an 18-month period, the Plan lays out a vision, 15 goals, 34 priority strategies, and 276 recommendations for advancing the agriculture and food system in Vermont. Focus groups with over 120 Vermont industry members such as beef, dairy, sheep and goat, maple, vegetable and berry producers, Vermont Cheese Council board members, farmers market managers, specialty food association members, and Farm to School leaders were also convened to give input that helped shape the Plan.