Food, farm plan aims to boost economic output by 26% by 2030
February 8, 2021 GMT
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.
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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.