Andrew Perchlik

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?

I believe that we will be most successful with a populace that has the food they need to survive and thus the Vermont State Government should strive to make that happen by building a muri-pronged approach to ending food insecurity in the short term and building a food security system in the long term.

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

I'd like to expand the working lands initiative in order to focus/provide more funds for local farms growing more food to build the local food economy and build the local, state, and regional markets for local food.

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

Injustice and economic poverty are the fertilizers for the growth of hunger. Building economic prosperity and proving food in a crises can help but there needs to be a societal understanding that, as the saying goes, that only the poor can forgive you for the gift of bread. Poverty is not just the lack of $ but the lack of justice.

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?

I'd look to the 2025 Food Security Road Map and follow the recommended paths that seem ripe for both short term gain and long term structural reform that will get us the wholistic food system we need.