In our roles at CALS and Extension, we have heard the assertion that compared to other regions, some Vermont farmers and other food system actors have fared relatively well in response to the extreme disruption presented by COVID-19, on average.1Ìý Whether this is accurate, and if so, whether it applies to all food system stakeholders, remains unclear, and addressing and understanding the different components of this assertion is fertile ground for moving forward to a resilient future.Ìý We note that there remains a wide knowledge gap in our understanding of the factors of resilient relationships between Vermont’s local food and farming systems and its stakeholders, a gap we are able to see in sharp relief right now during the COVID-19 crisis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the nation’s food system in unprecedented ways - the small and medium farms that make up our local food system are key to maintaining the economies of rural communities, providing healthy, safe foods, and sustaining ecosystem functioning through working lands.
Funder & Project Team
Funding:
- ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Office of Engagement
- ¶¶Òõ̽̽ College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- USDA Hatch (NIFA)
- USDA ARS
Project Team:
- Principal Investigator (PI)ÌýLinda Berlin, PhD, Extension Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Center for Sustainable Agriculture Director
- °ä´Ç-±Ê±õÌýDaniel Tobin, PhD, ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
- Suzy Hodgson, MS, Project Lead, Center for Sustainable Agriculture
- Juan Alvez, PhD, Research Associate, Center for Sustainable Agriculture
- Lisa Chase, PhD, Extension Professor, Vermont Tourism Research Center
- Cheryl Herrick, MPS, Communications Specialist, Center for Sustainable Agriculture
- Carina Isbell, Graduate Student,Ìý¶¶Òõ̽̽ Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
Methods & Goals
The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a specific time period to study the contours of resiliency in high relief for Vermont’s farmers and food system, and to identify the key factors and relationships driving social and economic sustainability in Vermont’s farm/food system.
Using farmer contact lists, including the participants in Extension’s “Sourcing & Selling Vermont Food in the Time of COVID-19“ webinar series as our sample group, we will design and conduct a survey to identify:
1. The gender, racial and cultural identities of farmers and service providers within our existing network.
2. Which resources farmers had access to,
3. The connections and interactions farmers have with each other and with relevant organizations.
With these responses, we will analyze the types and strengths of these connections and map a network that will help illuminate the relative importance and influence of these factors.
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Interested in knowing more about the Center's work or do you have a question we haven't answered here?Ìý Contact us via email orÌý 802-656-5459 and we'll do our best to help.
