We are thrilled to highlight the new Local Purchasing Incentive, which passed into law in Vermont this past spring. This exciting new grant program available through the Vermont Agency of Education incentivizes schools to buy more foods grown or produced in Vermont. Offering a reimbursement of 15 cents per lunch served during the 2020-2021 school year and up to 25 cents per lunch served in subsequent years, this grant has the potential to transform school lunch in great ways by getting more fresh, local food into the lunch program while supporting the Vermont agricultural and food production economy.

Linked here is an FAQ Food Connects has put together about the new program. This FAQ is not an official Agency of Education policy. Still, it is a tool that Food Connects created to help schools begin to strategize about this while the AOE works out how to implement the program in the coming months.

We are working closely with school nutrition directors and administrators on this. Please reach out to farmtoschool@foodconnects.org if you would like to learn more!