Program History
In 2011 the Vermont Legislature provided funding to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) for the creation of the Vermont Local Food Market Development Grant Program. Each year subsequently, the Vermont State Legislature has annually appropriated funds to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets to support market opportunities with an institutional or other wholesale focus in Vermont. In 2023, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is focusing this grant on institutional market development and removing wholesale market access as a funding priority, due to overlap with existing VAAFM grant programs supporting wholesale market access.
Farms seeking grant funding to support wholesale market access might consider the Produce Safety Improvement Grant program or funding opportunities through the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative. VAAFM offers a menu of funding opportunities as well as business planning and assistance resources available to the Vermont agricultural community.
FY2023
2023 Farm to Institution Market Development Grants - Project Period: June 2023-June 2025.
- Center for an Agricultural Economy - Connecting Vermont Farms with Regional Institutions - $27,500
- Equinox Food Brokers - Institutional Market Expansion and Development - $17,500