Amanda Janoo

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?

Food is a basic human need, and ensuring every Vermonter has access to healthy, nourishing food should be a core responsibility of government. But the state's role goes beyond emergency assistance. It means building a food system that’s resilient, locally rooted, and capable of feeding Vermonters regardless of what happens to federal funding, global supply chains, or increasingly concentrated food monopolies.

Today, too much of our food system and the wealth it creates is controlled by a handful of corporations, leaving farmers with less bargaining power, communities more vulnerable, and billions of dollars leaving Vermont every year. As Governor, I would make food security and resilience a top priority by investing in local farmers, food processing, regional distribution, and the infrastructure that keeps Vermont fed from the ground up. A resilient Vermont is one that has the capacity to feed itself by supporting thriving farms and our local food economy.

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

Food security starts with recognizing that healthy, nutritious food is not a luxury—it's one of the foundations of freedom. My goal is simple: to make Vermont one of the most food-secure states in the country by strengthening our capacity to feed ourselves.

We'll build on the incredible work already happening through Farm to Plate, our farm-to-school programs, food hubs, and local farmers by investing in regional food processing, storage, distribution, and institutional purchasing so more of the food grown here feeds Vermonters. We'll protect farmland, expand access for new and working farmers, strengthen cooperative food businesses, and build resilient local supply chains that keep more wealth circulating in our rural communities.

At the same time, we'll address the root causes of food insecurity by making housing, healthcare, and energy more affordable so every Vermonter can access healthy, locally produced food. A resilient Vermont is one that can feed itself.

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

Hunger is a symptom of economic insecurity, not just a lack of food. When housing, healthcare, childcare, and energy costs consume a family's paycheck, groceries become the budget that gets cut.

The answer is to address those costs together. This is why I’m committed to guaranteeing universal primary and preventive healthcare, expanding permanently affordable housing, lowering property taxes by asking those with the wealthiest to contribute their fair share, invests in affordable clean energy, and supports good-paying local jobs. Combined with a stronger local food system, these policies reduce the financial pressure that forces families to choose between paying the rent and buying groceries. Food security isn't a separate issue—it's the result of building an economy that allows every Vermonter to meet their basic needs with dignity.

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?

Farmers don't just produce food—they steward our land, strengthen our communities, and are essential to Vermont's resilience. My goal is to make farming more viable by keeping more of the food dollar in Vermont.

Today, too much power in our food system is concentrated in a handful of multinational corporations that control processing, distribution, and retail. That leaves farmers with less bargaining power, communities more vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, and more wealth leaving Vermont.

We'll build on the Farm to Plate initiative by investing in regional processing, storage, slaughter, distribution, and institutional purchasing so schools, hospitals, and state agencies buy more Vermont-grown food. We'll protect farmland, expand access for beginning and working farmers, support cooperatives and value-added food businesses, and strengthen local supply chains that keep more wealth circulating in our rural communities. A resilient Vermont is one that can feed itself while ensuring farmers earn a fair living.