MONTPELIER — The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is no longer in line to receive anticipated federal funding, which would have helped Vermont farms feed their local communities in 2025.
On Friday, March 7, VAAFM received termination notices for two cooperative agreements from our USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) program contacts for the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA25) and Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) programs. The termination notices read, in part: “AMS has determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate.”
Between 2022 and 2024, VAAFM received $1,351,726 through these programs, which has helped Vermont schools and communities buy local food from over 100 Vermont farms.
USDA announced the availability of additional funding for these programs on October 1, 2024. In early January 2025, Vermont signed two cooperative agreements totaling $1,720,160 for both LFSCC ($1,222,076) and LFPA25 ($498,027). Both programs were slated to begin implementation later in 2025.
This termination notice does not impact currently active LFPA Plus projects, including $49,780 to Center for an Center for an Agricultural Economy, to expand their Produce to Pantries program to facilitate increased distribution of Vermont grown food at five Caledonia and Orleans County food pantries.
Sarah McIlvennie, is the VAAFM Emerging Issues Specialist and Gina Clitherois the VAAFM Farm to Institution Program Manager.
Sarah McIlvennie
