Aly Richards

What do you believe is the role of state government, if any, in ensuring that everyone living in Vermont has the food they need to thrive?

State government has a fundamental role to play. No Vermonter should have to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table, and it is our state government’s job to ensure Vermonters’ basic needs are met so that they have what they need to thrive. That means protecting and strengthening programs that already work and that Vermonters have paid into, like 3SquaresVT and school meals, while also tackling the affordability crisis that threatens food security for Vermont families. Food security isn’t an isolated issue, it is a result of the same broken economy that is driving up costs for housing, health care, and child care. As governor, I will treat it that way: a core state responsibility, and a reflection of our values as Vermonters.

What would be your policy priorities to move Vermont toward food security for all?

My top priority as governor is building a Vermont Economic Action Plan, a coordinated strategy with clear targets and deadlines to make Vermont a place every family can afford to live. Food security has to be part of that plan, not an afterthought. That means fully funding and protecting Universal School Meals so it is never on the chopping block, defending 3SquaresVT and other federal nutrition programs against cuts coming out of Washington, and expanding proven local food programs like Crop Cash, Farm Share, food hubs, and Vermonters Feeding Vermonters so families can afford fresh, Vermont-grown food and our farmers have a stable market for their incredible goods. And because I believe the people closest to a problem know the solution best, I'll make sure Vermonters experiencing hunger have a real voice in shaping these policies.

What do you believe are the root causes of hunger, and what should the state do to address those underlying factors?

Hunger in Vermont is rarely about food alone. It's what happens when housing, health care, child care, and utility costs eat up a family's budget and food is the one line item flexible enough to cut. That's the core premise of my campaign: these aren't separate crises, they're symptoms of one broken, unaffordable economy. So the state's job is to bring down the cost of living across the board: building more homes Vermonters can actually afford, lowering health care costs and protecting Medicaid coverage, making child care affordable so parents can work, and fighting for livable wages and protections like paid family and medical leave. When families aren't drained by housing or health care bills, they have room in their budgets for food. Tackling hunger means tackling affordability, full stop.

How would you help strengthen the state’s agriculture and food economy to ensure Vermont farms can continue to grow the food we all need?

Vermont farmers are the backbone of our rural economy, and they deserve a state government that treats them that way. First, I'll get the Farm & Forestry Operations Security Special Fund actually funded; the Legislature created it to help farms recover from extreme weather, and it shouldn't sit on the shelf. Second, I'll create a cabinet-level Office of Rural Prosperity so farmers and rural communities have a real seat at the table in Montpelier. Third, I'll keep investing in the programs that keep farm dollars in Vermont: Farm to School, Crop Cash, Farm Share, and Vermonters Feeding Vermonters all help farmers find reliable buyers while making local food more affordable for families. And because farmers can't operate without workable roads, bridges, and culverts, or a workforce that can afford to live here, I'll pair agricultural investment with the rural infrastructure Vermont needs to keep farms viable for the next generation.