Program Overview
This purpose of this the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Grant is to help early childhood education providers and after school programs access more Vermont grown and produced food. Successful applicants will receive a reimbursement grant to subsidize the cost of a community supported agriculture (CSA) share(s). Shares must be from a Vermont farm, or farm collaborative.
Grants of up to $1,500 are available. The grants will reimburse programs for 65-80% of the cost of a CSA or farm share, up to the maximum award amount. Applicants are required to cover the remaining 20-35% of the cost of the CSA or farm share using matching funds. As a reimbursement grant, successful applicants need to be prepared to purchase their CSA share(s) out-of-pocket as soon as they are notified that they are awarded a grant and prior to receiving grant payment.
This is a competitive grant opportunity and funding is not guaranteed. Applicants should not purchase their CSA share(s) until they are notified that their application has been approved for funding.
Read this CSA Grant Factsheet for a quick summary of the grant.
Program Pause for 2025
The CSA Grant Program will not be offered in 2025. This was a difficult decision that the Agency had to make to allow capacity to design and implement a new USDA Local Food for Schools and Childcare Program, which will provide over $1.2 M in local food to Vermont schools and early childhood programs. $277,850 of that USDA funding is specifically earmarked for early childhood programs. For the latest announcements on the Vermont Local Food for Schools and Child Care program, please subscribe to the Vermont Farm to School Listerv or the Vermont Ag Bulletin.
After a program pause, the Agency plans to re-open another mini-grant program specifically designed for early childhood programs and afterschool programs in 2026. This could take the form of another CSA grant, or a kitchen infrastructure grant.