Local Food Statistics & Resources

A major part of City Market’s Global Ends or Mission Statement is to support our local producers and strengthen our local food system and economy. We work with over 1,000 local producers to offer a variety of local products throughout the Co-op. Every year, the number of local products we have on our shelves grows and sales of local products continue to rise. In fiscal year 2019, we offered over 2,700 local products, which contributed to approximately 40% of our total sales!

In terms of Vermont’s food system, in 2010, Vermont Farm to Plate set a target of 10% local food consumption by 2020. In 2017, the target was surpassed, with 12.9% of total food and beverage purchases in Vermont spent on local products. The Vermont Farm to Plate Strategic Plan, which resulted from the legislative passage of the Farm to Plate Investment Program in 2009 includes a comprehensive food system plan for the state and in the most recent, 2018 Farm to Plate Annual Report, there some notable numbers that point to the incredible progress that has been achieved:

Since 2010 purchases of local food in Vermont has increased by $176 million to $289 million in total which is 12.7% of the total food sales.
6,559 net new jobs and 742 net new business have been created
$42 million dollar in local food was purchased at coops (14.7% of total local food purchases)
From 2014 to 2017 there has been a $12 million dollar increase in dairy sales
23% of local food and beverage purchases are direct to consumer meaning purchased through a CSA, farmer’s market, farm stand or brewery tap rooms.
There was a $46 million dollar growth in locally made beverages from 2014-2017
66% of Vermont school districts purchased local vegetables in 2017

City Market is committed to strengthening Vermont’s local food system. In addition to working with our amazing local producers to sell their products, we also host Crop Mobs, farm tours, and participate on Vermont Farm to Plate working groups and task forces and partner closely with area non-profits that are working to grow the capacity of our local food system and address food insecurity in our state. We also have our very own Co-op Seedling Grant program where we support a number of projects working to strengthen our local food system — in 2019 we awarded $40,000 to 10 different projects!

Interested in learning more about Vermont’s local food system? Check out the links below for some organizations doing amazing work:

Burlington School Food Project

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA VT)

Rural Vermont

Shelburne Farms

The Center for an Agricultural Economy

University of Vermont’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Vermont Agency of Agriculture