NOFA Vermont’s Farm Share Program assists low-income Vermonters in obtaining farm fresh fruits and vegetables. Farm Share participants receive partially subsidized shares from Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. In 2009 we had over to 1,400 individuals participating in the Vermont Farm Share Program.
NOFA Vermont’s Farm Share Program has been serving Vermont since 1994. The program was begun in response to the increase in food insecure children and adults in Vermont as well as the recognition of the gap that exists between social service providers, seeking food for limited-income individuals, and farmers seeking a local market for their food. The program has grown from serving a dozen individual families and three farms in 1995 to more than 1,400 Vermonters in 2009.
The Campaign to End Childhood Hunger noted in 2007 that 15% of children in Vermont live in poverty. Nearly one out of every ten households in Vermont is food insecure. Adults in households determined to be food insecure are so limited in resources that they are running out of food, reducing the quality of food their family eats, feeding their children unbalanced diets, or skipping meals so their children can eat.
Drawing on NOFA Vermont's long relationship working with farmers committed to community food production, we established the program as a way to link food producers with limited-income Vermonters. Each year, the Farm Share Program subsidizes the cost of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, providing a season's worth of fresh farm products (vegetables, eggs, bread, meat) to limited-income families and children, and seniors (Senior Farm Share).
The CSA is a unique model of food assistance that:
The Farm Share Program also provides farm and nutrition education through cooking and food preparation workshops, and provides recipes and other resources specific to the needs of limited-income families. Due to program demand, the Vermont Farm Share Program has catalyzed the development of new CSA's in underserved areas of the state.
Limited-income Vermonters who meet the income eligibility standard may participate in the program. NOFA Vermont uses the eligibility guideline of 185% of poverty – in 2009, that is equivalent to monthly incomes of $1,670 for a single person, $2,247 for a couple, $2,832 for a family of 3, $3,400 for 4, $3,976 for a family of 5 and $4,553 for a family of 6.
If you are interested in participating in the program, please read the program description and complete the application form or contact the office with questions.
Farm Share funds are raised annually to subsidize CSA shares through our annual fundraising event, Share the Harvest, held the first Thursday of October. Participating restaurants pledge between 5-15% of their sales on the day of the event to benefit our Vermont Farm Share members. The funds raised from Share the Harvest are used to match what farmers are able to raise through their community and/or their CSA shareholders. CSA share recipients contribute the remaining 50% of the cost of the CSA share.
The Senior Farm Share Program helps limited-income seniors purchase fresh locally-grown fruits and vegetables from their local farmer. Each week a Senior Farm Share member receives a portion of the harvest from the farm. In addition to receiving vegetables, seniors are given the opportunity to connect with other seniors within their residence through food distribution and preparation, learn from University of Vermont Nutrition educators ways to cook and preserve their produce, meet other community members who are associated with the farm, and develop a relationship with the farmer who grows the food they eat each week. In 2007, there were over 600 senior farm share members throughout Vermont!
The Department of Aging and Disabilities and NOFA-VT have identified a number of areas in Vermont that will be served through this program. These residences have been chosen based on a variety of factors including eligibility, number of interested participants, proximity to the farm, and availability and willingness of a residential coordinator to take on responsibilities for pick up and distribution.
To participate in the program, seniors must be 60 or older, although younger adults with a disability may qualify if they also meet the financial criteria. Families with a monthly income at or below $1,604 for a family of one and $2,159 for a family of two are eligible.
The Senior Farm Share Program connects seniors to the farm through what is called, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) - a means of food distribution where community members purchase a "share" of the seasonal harvest. Senior "shares" are subsidized through the program, so eligible seniors do not need to pay to participate. Each senior is eligible for a $50 coupon which entitles each senior to about $5 worth of vegetables each week from the farm. Seniors are not eligible for any additional funds through this program.
Each senior will receive enough vegetables to supplement their diet. This program will not provide all of the vegetables or the variety of vegetables you might want or desire throughout the season. You are receiving about $5 in vegetables every week. You may or may not get to choose the kinds of vegetables that are distributed to you. Expect a wide variety of vegetables each week and plan on trading with other seniors who might like something you do not enjoy. Once again, this program is supplemental to your diet!
Each farm is different and the farm plan reflects these differences. Many farmers grow for up to 100 families and choose a variety of vegetables for those families based on their soil, the location of the farm, the elevation, the customer desires, and the crops they enjoy growing. Be open to trying new vegetables, but communicate with your coordinator if you are unable to eat certain kinds of vegetables because of dietary restrictions. Some farmers will consider alternatives for unwanted vegetables, but cannot always do so.
Farmers generally begin distribution in mid to late June. At this time, Senior Farm Share members should expect spring harvest vegetables, like spinach, beets, greens, broccoli, and some other early vegetables. By late July and early August, seniors should expect a wider variety of vegetables, like tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, squashes, cucumbers, and peppers. The fall harvest brings winter squash, root vegetables, carrots, and greens. Delivery to members will end some time in October.
Each week, on a designated day, the housing coordinator will either pick up the vegetables at the farm or have them delivered to a common kitchen or community space at the senior residence. The housing coordinator will be responsible for the distribution of vegetables to all members, but will be requesting assistance from interested seniors. It will be important to find a small group of seniors willing to take on some leadership for the distribution of vegetables to all. Examples of possible distribution methods include:
The Vermont Department of Aging and Disabilities (and the Area Agencies on Aging) and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont are administrators of the program.
For questions about senior eligibility, residence eligibility, or nutrition education, please call: Amy Nickerson, The Vermont Department of Aging and Disabilities, (802) 241-2930.
For questions about the farm, the vegetables, nutrition education, or distribution, please contact Enid Wonnacott, The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont at enid@nofavt.org.