$150K Farm to School Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Grant Opens

What this means

Grants for non-profits and early childhood programs to purchase CSA shares from Vermont farms October 2, 2026 | Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is opening applications for the Farm to School Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Grant. $150,000 is available to award. The purpose of this grant is to provide local food to young children in early childhood education programs early learners through CSA shares. This grant helps early care institutions overcome the financial and logistical barriers to feeding children fresh, nutritious food from local farms.

Official release

Source material from Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Grants for non-profits and early childhood programs to purchase CSA shares from Vermont farms

October 2, 2026 | Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is opening applications for the Farm to School Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Grant. $150,000 is available to award. The purpose of this grant is to provide local food to young children in early childhood education programs early learners through CSA shares. This grant helps early care institutions overcome the financial and logistical barriers to feeding children fresh, nutritious food from local farms. This grant is open to non-profit organizations located in Vermont and licensed or registered early childhood education providers.

The application portal is open now through November 12, 2026 at 1:59 PM.

Award limits apply based on the licensed capacity of each early childhood program involved in a project. Applicants will be notified of decisions in February 2027, with projects beginning in March or April 2027.

To maximize the impact of this grant program, VAAFM is encouraging individual early childhood education providers to partner with other providers on a group application. Non-profit organizations or early childhood education providers can submit applications on behalf of a group of early childhood programs. A letter of commitment is required from each early childhood program that applies or partners on an application. A letter of commitment is also required of every farm partner that would provide CSA shares to one or more early childhood programs if the project is awarded.

There will be an optional applicant webinar on Wednesday, October 7 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM for prospective applicants to learn more.

Full details about the Farm to School CSA Grant, including eligibility criteria and webinar information, can be found on the FY27 Farm to School CSA Grant webpage.

The Farm to Institution Program was authorized with the passage of the Rozo Mclaughlin Farm-to-School Program Act of 2006 and is funded with an annual state appropriation from the Vermont State Legislature. Since the first grants in 2007, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has awarded 359 farm to school grants, investing $2.7 million in state funds in 163 schools and school districts and 166 licensed child care programs.

For questions regarding Farm to Institution grant opportunities, please contact:

Gina Clithero | Farm to Institution Program Manager | gina.clithero@vermont.gov | 802-585-6225

Release text attributed to Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.