Nourishing Vermont: The Food Connects & VT Foodbank Partnership

Food Connects is proud to partner with Vermont Foodbank to build a stronger, more resilient food system across our state, ensuring everyone in Vermont has access to nourishing, locally-produced food.

A Growing Partnership

Our collaboration with Vermont Foodbank began in 2021 when the Foodbank was looking for a Vermont egg source. That summer, Food Connects delivered over 14,000 dozen eggs from Grand Isle-based producer, Dreamwalker Farm. Since then, we've worked together to provide their three distribution centers with everything from a one-time delivery of halal-inspected chicken to support Afghan refugees to regular shipments of Vermont apples.

Vermonters Feeding Vermonters

In December of 2022, Food Connects received a Vermonters Feeding Vermonters (VFV) contract, a cornerstone of our partnership with Vermont Foodbank. This Foodbank program includes contracts to purchase large quantities of produce from local farms in the fall, winter, and spring, enabling farmers like Green Mountain Orchards to plan their crops with confidence, knowing they have a guaranteed market at a fair price. 

Thanks to the VFV program, we are scheduled to deliver over 60,000 lbs of local fruits and vegetables from farms across Vermont, including:

Rutland: A Model of Success

Since March 2023, Food Connects has worked with the Foodbank to meet the specific needs of the Rutland community by providing a large variety of produce. Our deliveries of mixed pallets each month allow for a greater variety of local fruits and vegetables from over 10 Vermont farms ranging from Green Mountain Orchard blueberries to fresh microgreens from Grateful Greens in Brattleboro. The program's flexibility ensures that local, nutritious food reaches food shelves, childcare centers, and meal sites across Vermont.

Thank You!

The Vermont Foodbank recognizes the power of local food systems to address food insecurity, strengthen rural communities, and address climate change. Support of both Vermont Foodbank and Food Connects makes all of this possible. Because of people like you, more people in Vermont have delicious, healthy food on their plates - food grown right here in the Green Mountain State.