§ 330 - The farm-to-plate investment program; creation; goals; tasks; methods
§ 330. The farm-to-plate investment program; creation; goals; tasks; methods
(a) Creation.
(1) The sustainable jobs fund program in consultation with the Vermont sustainable agriculture council shall establish the Vermont farm-to-plate investment program to fulfill the goals and carry out the tasks described in this section.
(2) If at least $100,000.00 in funding is not made available for the purpose of this section, the sustainable jobs fund program is encouraged but no longer required to fulfill the provisions of this section.
(b) Goals. The goals of the farm-to-plate investment program are to:
(1) Increase economic development in Vermont's food and farm sector.
(2) Create jobs in the food and farm economy.
(3) Improve access to healthy local foods.
(c) Tasks.
(1) By June 30, 2010, the Vermont farm-to-plate investment program shall create a strategic plan for agricultural economic development, which may be periodically reviewed and updated, based upon the following:
(A) Inventory Vermont's food system infrastructure by gathering existing data, studies, and analysis about the components of Vermont's food system, including:
(i) The types of foods produced in Vermont, the number of producers of each type of food, the amount of each type of food produced, and the financial viability of each food-producing sector.
(ii) The types of food processors in Vermont, how much food produced in Vermont is purchased by Vermont processors, and the financial viability of the food processing sector in Vermont.
(iii) The current and potential markets in which Vermont food producers and processors can sell their products.
(iv) The extent of existing agricultural lands that could be expanded and the resources available to expand Vermont's food production.
(v) The potential for new farmers and food processors to enter the local food economy, the methods for new farmers to acquire land and other farm infrastructure, and the availability and barriers to farm and processing labor.
(vi) The potential for entirely new local products and the barriers to farmers and processors entering new markets.
(B) Identify gaps in the infrastructure and distribution systems and identify ways to address these gaps.
(2) The Vermont farm-to-plate investment program shall seek grant funding to support farm-to-table direct marketing, including farmers' markets and community-supported agriculture operations and to support regional community food hubs.
(3) As an ongoing task, the farm-to-plate investment program shall use the information gathered for the strategic plan to identify methods and the funding necessary to strengthen the links among producers, processors, and markets, including:
(A) Support of the work of existing farm-to-school programs to increase the purchase of local foods by Vermont schools, with a particular emphasis on procurement of nutrient-dense animal foods.
(B) Collaborating with the agency of agriculture, food and markets and the department of buildings and general services to increase procurement of local foods in accordance with 6 V.S.A. § 4601.
(C) Collaborating with the agency of agriculture, food and markets and the sustainable agriculture council to increase procurement of local foods by businesses and institutions.
(D) Supporting initiatives that improve direct marketing of foods from the farm to the consumer.
(E) Informing agricultural lenders of the information collected under subdivision (c)(1) of this subsection in order to facilitate availability of agricultural financing.
(d) Methods. To accomplish the goals and carry out the ongoing tasks stated in this section, the Vermont farm-to-plate investment program may:
(1) Create an advisory panel with representatives from the agricultural and business communities.
(2) Hire or assign staff.
(3) Seek and accept funds from private and public entities.
(4) Utilize technical assistance, loans, grants, or other means approved by the board.
(e) [Repealed]. (Added 2009, No. 54, § 35, eff. June 1, 2009; amended 2009, No. 3 (Sp. Sess.), § 11(b).)