Local Food in Schools: Fueling Vermont’s Students & Economy

The Essex Westford School District is a recent Vermont Local Food Incentive grantee because it purchased 15% local foods during school year 2023–2024.

“Nutrition is such an important part of the school day. Kids can't learn without food. It's not just this kind of little thing that's happening inside the school cafeteria, but it has a bigger reach than that, and can impact local producers, economies. It can really strengthen our food systems.” –Scott Fay, Director of Child Nutrition Essex Westford School District

Vermont schools collectively purchase over $25 million of food every year. What could happen if more of those dollars went to local farmers? 

Our state is exploring this very idea. Vermont School Food Authorities (SFA)—the organizations responsible for school meals, of which there are  69 statewide—are building more and more relationships with local farmers to fill lunch trays and rely less on processed products from across the country.

But buying from Vermont growers and producers isn’t easy. With incredibly tight meal budgets, schools find it challenging to sustainably invest in local foods.

That’s where the Vermont Agency of Education’s Local Food Incentive (LFI) comes in. The LFI encourages schools to buy local by awarding them additional funds when their local purchasing reaches certain thresholds: at 15% local purchasing, SFAs are awarded $0.15 per meal served; at 20%, $0.20; and at 25%, $0.25. Last year, twelve SFAs reached these thresholds, collectively spending more than $1.28 million on local food!

Every young Vermonter should grow up with local food on their lunch tray. By giving schools the resources they need to purchase from Vermont farmers, we ensure all children have equitable access to high quality, locally grown food. And, every school dollar spent on local food generates $1.60 in economic activity for Vermont, keeping money circulating and growing in our state’s food economy.  

Congratulations to the recent Local Food Incentive grantees whose school meals used at least 15% local foods:

• Addison Northwest School District
• Central Vermont Supervisory Union
• Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union School District
• Harwood Unified Union School District
• Lamoille North Supervisory Union
• Lamoille South Supervisory Union
• Mount Abraham Unified School District
• Mountain Views Supervisory Union
• Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union
• Rivendell Interstate School District
• Windham Northeast Supervisory Union
• Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union

Vermont FEED is the statewide technical assistance provider for schools looking to increase their local purchasing. Learn more about local procurement in schools and the Local Foods Incentive.