By Farm First
The Farm and Food Worker Relief (FFWR) Program from the U.S Department of Agriculture provides eligible workers with $600 stipends for expenses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Farmworkers (dairy, meat, and produce) that worked between January 27th, 2022-May 11th, 2023, within the United States or U.S territories are eligible. Immigration status is not an eligibility criteria but workers need to provide proof of identify and employment.
Workers that are eligible for relief payments are those in frontline farming activities, grocery stores, or meatpacking* who incurred expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This work should have been performed in the United States or certain U.S. territories (Guam, American Samoa, or Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) between January 27th, 2020, and May 11th, 2023. Applicants must self-certify they have not received this relief from another grantee.
Eligible workers can apply through PASA Sustainable Agriculture, which has partnered with other organizations in Vermont to connect with farmworkers and support them through the application process. You can access the PASA application at www.farmworkers.org.
Support is available 24/7 via email, in English at support@pasafarming.org, or in Spanish at apoyo@pasafarming.org.
Toll free phone support is available in English and Spanish at (833) 469-3397 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:30 am–2:30 pm ET.
Farmworkers in Vermont are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Processing times vary, but can take several weeks. It’s very likely that these application windows will permanently close by early summer.