NOFA-VT

We're glad to hear that USDA is finally moving forward with $31.7 million in disaster relief funding for Vermont farmers impacted by the devastating floods of 2023 and 2024.

Thank you to Sen. Peter Welch for advocating for Vermont farmers and pressing USDA for answers about when this long-awaited funding would be released.

At the same time, this announcement is a reminder of how difficult it can be for farmers to navigate disaster recovery. Many farms have been waiting years for assistance while continuing to shoulder the costs of flood damage, crop losses, and lost markets.

That's one reason Vermont's farming community came together to create the Farm Security Fund—a state-level tool designed to get emergency support to farms quickly when disaster strikes. Farmers shouldn't have to wait three years for relief while agencies work through administrative backlogs.

Please note that applications for this USDA funding are not yet open. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is still developing the application process, and we'll be sure to share more information as soon as farmers can apply.

We're grateful to see USDA distributing this funding that Congress has already appropriated, and we hope that the reimbursements for Organic Certification Cost Share are next on the list.

Find the full article at the link below:

https://vtdigger.org/2026/06/10/feds-approve-31-7-million-in-disaster-aid-for-flood-hit-vermont-farmers/

Summer farmers markets are back in action, and you can multiply your 3SquaresVT/SNAP dollars with Crop Cash at participating markets!

And there's more good news 🎉 Crop Cash Plus returns on July 1!

These vital programs help shoppers stretch their food budgets further while supporting local farmers and food producers.

Right now, for every dollar of SNAP you spend at a participating farmers market, you'll receive:

🫜$1 in Crop Cash to spend on fruits, vegetables, herbs, and culinary seeds and plant starts (up to $20 per market visit).

Then, beginning July 1, you'll also receive:

🫜 $1 in Crop Cash Plus to spend on any SNAP-eligible item, including meat, dairy, grains, and more (up to $10 per market visit).

Crop Cash can be earned and spent at participating markets now through April 30, 2027. Crop Cash Plus coupons can be earned from July 1 through October 31, 2026, and spent through April 30, 2027.

Learn more at nofavt.org/cropcash or visit the link in our bio!

This spring, NOFA-VT launched the Long-Handled Spoons Dinners, a micro-grant program designed to bring neighbors together to connect, share a locally sourced meal, and explore ways to strengthen their communities.

While the name draws inspiration from the Parable of the Long-Handled Spoons, the idea of gathering around food to cultivate community solutions goes back to NOFA-VT's very beginnings. In 1971, a group of farmers came together in Putney—ostensibly over food—and imagined what would eventually become the organization we know today. They recognized then what we still know now: together, we can accomplish far more than we ever could alone.

When we gather around a table—especially over food grown with care by our neighbors—we remember that we are not alone. We build relationships, deepen our sense of belonging, and recommit to keeping one another fed, safe, and warm.

In late February, NOFA-VT opened applications for the first round of Long-Handled Spoons Dinner micro-grants. By early March, we had received 175 applications. Thanks to generous support from King Arthur Baking Company and The Alchemist, we awarded twenty-eight $200 micro-grants to members in every county of Vermont. Throughout the spring, recipients hosted dinners that brought together neighbors, friends, and community members for meaningful conversations over local food.

Applications came from a wide range of members—from those deeply involved in the organic food movement to others just beginning to explore it. Many applicants shared experiences of isolation or a desire to build stronger networks of community care and support. Others saw the dinners as an opportunity to finally introduce themselves to neighbors they had previously only waved to in passing.

You can read reflections from hosts and participants, along with a recap of the dinners, on our blog:

https://www.nofavt.org/about/blog/what-happens-when-people-receive-200-invite-their-neighbors-over-local-organic-meal

We're excited to share that we've secured enough funding to offer another round of micro-grants this summer. Stay tuned for details!

Together, we're continually building a more sustainable, just, and connected food system in Vermont. Visit nofavt.org/spoons to learn more and find resources for hosting your own Long-Handled Spoons Dinner.

📣 Volunteers Needed!

Our mobile pizza oven is headed to Shelburne Farms next Tuesday, June 23, for the Vermont FEED (Food Education Every Day) Northeast Farm to School Institute, and we need a few helping hands!

Join us between 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. to help stretch dough, top pizzas, and feed a crowd of farm-to-school champions. 🍕

Interested? Sign up at the link below:

https://www.jotform.com/form/261475393278165?utm_source=NOFA-VT+Main+List&utm_campaign=17c6e54833-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_11_09_06_56_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8a3617e9f7-17c6e54833-49718890

So grateful to be part of this amazing project and to see the very real impact it's having in Vermont schools!

There are just a few spots remaining for the Regional Agroforestry Transformation gathering happening on June 23-24!

Registration closes on Wednesday, June 17, or when the last few spots fill, so be sure to reserve your spot TODAY!

Held at innovative farms in western Massachusetts, including Yellowbud Farm, Meadowfed Lamb, Preservation Orchard, Big River Chestnuts, & Carr's Ciderhouse, this event brings together experienced farmers and practitioners for farm tours, collaborative working sessions, and conversations about strengthening capacity for agroforestry systems.

Through hands-on learning and connection, participants will explore how tree crops can support resilient farms, healthy ecosystems, and a more vibrant regional food system.

We're also thrilled to share that Elspeth Hay, author of "Feed Us with Trees," will be in conversation with Russell Wallack of Breadtree Farms as part of Wednesday's keynote address!

Attendees are welcome to join us on Tuesday, Wednesday, or both! Learn more and reserve your spot at the link below:

https://www.nofavt.org/events/cultivating-farmer-led-regional-agroforestry-transformation

The 2026 legislative session is a wrap, and we're celebrating some meaningful wins for Vermont farmers, local food systems, and food access.

After consecutive years of devastating extreme weather events, we passed the Farm & Forestry Operations Security Special Fund (formerly known as the Farm Security Fund), creating a framework to support farmers facing climate-related disasters. This is a key step to ensuring our farms can continue producing the food we need as farmers around the globe stand on the front lines of the climate crisis.

The legislature also allocated $350,000 in state funding for Farm Share, Crop Cash, and Crop Cash Plus, helping ensure these vital food access programs can continue serving Vermonters, supporting local farms, and investing federal SNAP spending in our local economies.

These victories didn't happen by accident. Farmers, shoppers, NOFA-VT members, coalition partners, and advocates across the state testified, contacted legislators, submitted comments, and showed up when it mattered most.

As we reflect on this session's wins, losses, and everything in between, we're reminded that good policy depends on the people most impacted having a seat at the table.

There is still work ahead—including securing meaningful state funding for the Farm Security Fund—but these wins demonstrate what's possible when people directly affected by policy have real opportunities to shape it.

Visit our blog at the link below for a full legislative recap, with updates on other food and farm policy issues we engaged in this session, including the paraquat ban, municipal regulation of agriculture, Act 181, protecting seed sovereignty, and community safety legislation.

https://www.nofavt.org/about/blog/2026-legislative-recap

That's riiiiight! The time has come. Scope out your favorite hiding spot in the kitchen, dust off your favorite recipes, and pick up your delicious sweet treat! Come check them out in the farm stand or at market this weekend. Happy Strawberry Season!!🍓🍓🍓

Good news for Vermont farmers: the USDA has approved $31.7 million in disaster relief funding to help farms recover from the devastating floods of 2023 and 2024. The funding will support farmers facing crop, infrastructure, and market losses, with application details expected from the state in the coming months.

Feds approve $31.7 million in disaster aid for flood-hit Vermont farmers - VTDigger The grant money tied to the 2023 and 2024 floods "should be moving out," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Sen. Peter Welch at a Senate hearing today.

🌞 Saturday Morning Starts at the Capital City Farmers Market!

Join us this Saturday, June 13, in Montpelier for another fantastic market day featuring 47 local vendors and all the best flavors of early summer.

The greenery is poppin’, and our farmers are bringing an incredible selection of fresh summer produce—along with locally raised meats, artisan foods, baked goods, coffee, gifts, handcrafted items, and so much more.

Whether you're shopping for the week, looking for a unique gift, or simply enjoying a morning downtown, there's something here for everyone.

Come hungry! You'll find plenty of ready-to-eat food options, pastries, coffee, and treats to enjoy while you browse.

We're also excited to welcome live music from Auriant, providing the perfect soundtrack for your Saturday market stroll.

This week's community organizations include:

🐶The Mitzvah Fund
🌊NBNC Marine Ecology Students
🥳Clubhouse Commons

One of the things that makes the Capital City Farmers Market special is the mix of local farmers and makers. Every purchase supports Vermont growers, producers, artists, and small businesses while helping build a stronger local economy and community.

Rain or shine, we'll be here.

📍 133 State Street, Montpelier
🕘 Saturday, June 13 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

Bring a friend, bring a neighbor, and come celebrate the abundance of a Vermont summer.

We accept Credit, Debit and EBT- with matching Crop Cash available!