MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A new strategic plan released Monday aims to increase the economic output of the Vermont food system by 26% and add 5,000 new jobs by 2030.
The Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan 2021-2030 identifies 15 goals.
The first plan covered 2011 to 2020. During that time frame, Vermont’s food system economic output expanded 48% to $11.3 billion and 6,560 net new food related jobs were added, the plan states.
The Legislature and Gov. Phil Scott reauthorized the Farm to Plate Investment Program in 2019 with the legislation’s goals of increasing economic development and jobs in the food and farm industry; improving soils, water and resiliency of the working landscape in the face of climate change; and improving access to healthy local foods for all Vermonters, the plan states.
Among the objectives is to have Vermont food comprise 25% of all in-state food purchases by 2030. It’s now at 14%. It also calls for making Vermont’s production more diverse and for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be able to adapt to climatic changes.
The plan is from the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund through its Farm to Plate Initiative and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
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