Vermont Food Bank asks legislature for $1.5 million to fully fund farmers‑to‑food‑shelves program

Carrie Steeler, government public affairs officer for the Vermont Food Bank, asked the legislative committee to support a $1.5 million FY26 budget adjustment to fully fund the Vermonters Feeding Vermonters program, which buys food from Vermont farms and distributes it through the Food Bank's network of food shelves and meal sites.

Steeler told the committee the program has three components: large‑scale direct purchasing from farms, grants to network partners that work with smaller farms, and culturally responsive purchases to meet distinct community needs. She said the program previously operated at about $2.4 million per year and supported more than 300 farms at its peak; because of funding limits this fiscal year the program is operating at roughly $1.0 million and will only be able to support about 210 farms.

"Our goal ... is to simultaneously support farms and people across Vermont who use our network of food shelves and meal sites," Steeler said, describing forward contracts the Food Bank uses to guarantee markets for farmers and to accept nonstandard produce that commercial buyers often reject.

Steeler told the committee the Food Bank had $500,000 in the FY26 budget that was expended between July and October 2025 and is seeking an additional $1.5 million to scale the program to earlier levels. She said the House recommended $400,000 in its version of the budget adjustment that was transmitted to the Senate appropriations process.

A committee member asked whether farms are paid up front if a weather event prevents full delivery under a forward contract; Steeler said she did not have a standard policy on hand and would follow up with the committee. The committee also requested written materials documenting last year's award, the current ask, and the House inclusion to help members advocate for the appropriation.

The committee did not take a vote; members said they would continue working on the budget adjustment language and consider the Food Bank's written materials in subsequent deliberations.