Andrea Murray

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 responsibility to help make sure Vermonters - especially children, seniors, veterans, and people facing a temporary crisis - do not go hungry. That role should be practical, accountable, and built around strong partnerships with food shelves, schools, farms, nonprofits, and local communities.

The state has a duty to ensure eligible Vermonters can access nutrition programs, reduce unnecessary barriers, and respond quickly when families face emergencies. At the same time, food security cannot be separated from affordability. We must lower the cost of living and strengthen the local farms and businesses that produce and distribute food at an accessible cost.

As a farmer and food producer, I believe the best solutions connect people in need with nourishing, local food while also keeping more food dollars in local communities.

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

My priorities would be to protect reliable access to school meals for those in need, strengthen programs that help Vermonters purchase fresh local food, and make it easier for eligible residents to use other existing benefits. This should all be done without increasing taxes.

I would also support practical farm-to-school and farm-to-institution purchasing so more food served in schools, hospitals, and public settings comes from Vermont producers. Programs should be measured for results, administered efficiently, and designed so smaller farms and rural communities can participate.

I also support emergency assistance for food shelves and farms during disasters or major disruptions. Food security policy should do two things well: help people obtain the food they need and create dependable local markets that create conditions for Vermont farms to thrive.

The other important priority is expanding workforce training and educational opportunities to help low-income workers qualify to fill the shortages in the local high-paying trades positions we desperately need for housing development.

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

The root causes of hunger are often economic factors - we have had an unprecedented cost of living increase in Vermont over the last 5 years from one-party control of legislative policies. We must have balance and rural Vermonters must have a strong representative voice that brings their plight to the table.

When basic costs of living consume a household budget, food becomes an expense families sacrifice as a least priority. A lack of job skills and access to training for employment opportunities, untreated mental health challenges and addiction all play a role in the hunger crisis Vermont is facing. There are countless other limiting factors, many of which can be addressed with the right legislative priorities.

The state should address hunger by making Vermont more affordable, expanding housing supply, improving employment opportunities, and reducing healthcare and energy costs. If life in Vermont becomes more affordable, food insecurity will dramatically decrease.

Long-term food security will not come from one program alone. It will come from an economy where families can afford their basic needs and local communities have the tools to help neighbors through hard times.

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 cannot have real food security without viable and thriving farms. I would work to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers, protect working lands, improve access to affordable farmland, and support farm succession so the next generation can continue farming.

We also need more in-state processing, storage, distribution, and slaughter capacity so farmers are not forced to send products long distances or lose value sending products outside Vermont to be processed. Purchasing policies should give Vermont farms preference to sell to schools, hospitals, and other institutions.

I would support workforce development, expansion of agriculture career programs, and tax incentives for farms of all sizes. Producing food is only sustainable when farming can be profitable. Our policies should reward stewardship, encourage innovation, and help farmers earn a fair return for the food and public benefits they provide.