Local Food in Schools and Child Care Food Hub Grant

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The application is now open for the Local Food in Schools and Child Care Food Hub Grant. This funding opportunity will provide local food to Vermont K–12 students through partnerships with nonprofit food hubs. Food hubs can apply for funding to work with a subset of School Food Authorities (SFAs) within their distribution reach, giving each SFA a pre-determined amount of funding to purchase local food from the food hub.

Funding is provided by a one-time State of Vermont legislative appropriation to the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Program for Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC), which was appropriated as a result of the termination of the USDA LFSCC funding in March 2025.

A total of $300,000 is available through this funding opportunity, and projects will last for two years. No matching funds are required.

Photo courtesy of White River Valley Supervisory Union

Apply by February 19

Education and Workforce Development Grant

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) invites applications for the Education and Workforce Development program, which focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and Extension and outreach professionals in the food and agricultural sciences.

This program supports professional development for K–14 educational professionals; non-formal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth; workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges; training undergraduate students in research and Extension and outreach; and predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships. Awards will range from $10,000–$650,000. Applications will be accepted through December 31.

Learn more

Early Bird Registration Extended for NE Dairy Innovation Summit

It’s time to register for the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Summit. Save $50 when you register by January 30. Thanks to support from our sponsors, we’ve been able to extend the Early Bird rate to the end of the month!

The Summit will give you strategies for implementing innovative technology, modernizing your farm or processing plant, working with technical assistance for long-term viability, growing the dairy workforce, leading your business through change, and more!

With session tracks on dairy farming, processing, workforce development, and policy, you’ll have opportunities to deepen your knowledge and connect with peers from across the region.

On-Farm Culturing for Mastitis Management Workshop

Join UVM Extension on February 12 at Billings Farm to learn about their experience implementing on‑farm milk culturing as a practical tool for mastitis detection and management. Participants will learn proper milk sampling and culturing techniques, how to interpret culture results, and how on‑farm diagnostics can support timely, targeted treatment decisions.

The session will also explore how on‑farm milk culturing fits into a broader mastitis management program and how it can help improve herd health and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. This workshop is designed for dairy producers interested in applying research‑based, on‑farm tools to improve mastitis management.

Join the Vermont Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture and the Vermont Specialty Foods Association invite you to join the Vermont Pavilion at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City from June 28–30.

The Summer Fancy Food Show is one of the premier business‑to‑business trade events for specialty food products. Buyers, distributors, and wholesalers from around the world attend the show each year.

In addition to benefiting from the Vermont brand, Pavilion members will join a community of Vermont businesses exhibiting at the show and will be be invited to join preshow calls with Pavilion members to help them prepare and to support networking and resource sharing among businesses.

Learn more

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

January
1/26 – Trade Show Assistance Grant application due

March
3/1 – The Big E Vendor application due

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