May 5, 2025 | Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the allocation of over $3 million in grants under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). This initiative aims to enhance Vermont’s local food distribution system by focusing on infrastructure and equipment.
The program awards $2.1 million in infrastructure grants to six organizations for large-scale projects that will boost capacity for activities such as aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distributing locally produced food. Additionally, fourteen organizations will receive nearly $1 million in equipment-only grants for “special purpose” equipment used in middle supply chain activities like processing and distribution.
Governor Phil Scott expressed gratitude for the funding from USDA: “Farms and rural communities are part of what makes Vermont so special,” he said. “We’re grateful to have this funding from USDA which will help us make important long-term investments benefitting the future of Vermont.”
Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of infrastructure: “Infrastructure is vital to the future of Vermont’s regional food system,” he stated. He noted that these grants support small organizations crucial to producers and consumers while enhancing public access to local food.
The RFSI grants aim at expanding processing capacities and modernizing equipment among other objectives. This creates opportunities for small and midsize producers in Vermont to thrive while increasing supply chain resiliency.
Awardees include Barred Woods ($450,000), Boyden Valley Winery ($385,970), Food Connects ($428,531), Myers Produce ($257,280), Vermont Bean Crafters ($137,200), and Vermont Farmers Food Center ($466,143) under infrastructure grants. Equipment-only grant recipients include 80 Goats Inc ($57,197) and Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN) ($99,831).
For further details on each grantee’s project or more information about VAAFM’s Resilient Food System Infrastructure program visit their website.
