Vermont is a leader in the successful movement that links families with the farmers who grow their food. Using Vermont successes as a model, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to establish a competitive grant program to promote community supported agriculture (CSA) throughout the country.
“At a time when many families are struggling to pay for food, CSAs make sure families can put local, healthy food on the table,” Bernie said. “As Vermonters have shown, linking local farmers with families creates jobs on farms and ensures that people have a healthy source of food.”
The Community Supported Agriculture Promotion Act would authorize grants to nonprofit organizations, extension services and state and local agencies to provide support to growers, ranging from marketing to business assistance. Preference would be given to projects linked to family farms, farms operated by or employing veterans, and networks that expand CSA reach into low-income communities that have poor access to healthy, affordable and fresh foods. Sen. Patrick Leahy is an original cosponsor of the legislation, as is Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Sen. John Tester (Mont.).
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