Dylan Morse

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 state government has an important role in shaping the food markets that exist for Vermonters. State government has the ability to encourage local farmers and producers and create pathways for Vermonters to access their quality products. I believe a town farmers' market is one of our best examples of a truly free market, where outcomes are maximized for both producers and consumers. State government should do more to encourage these local markets on behalf of both parties while also defining rules for the practices we DON'T want in our marketplaces (toxins, shortcuts, predatory pricing, harmful algorithmic data use).

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

Universal School Meals: Not only that we protect this program, but we ensure it is serving our students adequately. As a substitute teacher, I saw some of the sugar cereals, juices, and doughnuts our kids are starting their days with. We can and should do better by them by serving up local, healthy produce with each school meal.

Farm to Table: I think the state can do more to advertise and promote our great local products. Not just to tourists, but by creating food networks in every county of the state. I think every Vermont household should have access to a guide telling them when and where their farmers' markets are, and where they can find fresh products made within a short radius.

Agro-business: Our local farms are creating great products, but due to some legal restrictions they can struggle to bring them to market. We should encourage all the entrepreneurship our farmers and growers have to offer by encouraging farm diversity and making sure Act 250 is working as intended.

Data privacy: Corporate retail grocers use consumer data to gain an advantage over smaller local markets - the kind we want to encourage. We need to make sure our purchases aren't following us home when we shop. We need rules around our data.

Toxins and pesticides: Speaking of rules, we need rules around what ingredients are allowed in the food we consume, and which products are used in the process in which it is made. When are we collectively going to decide that we shouldn't allow ourselves to be poisoned by eating? We should decide now, and we should decide here in Vermont.

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

I believe the root causes of hunger can usually be found in crises of affordability. The state has to do more work to house our residents, to make sure they are earning fair wages, and to grant access to health insurance for all. The more work we can do in housing, labor, and healthcare, the less neighbors we will have going hungry. I'm 100% committed to making life more affordable for everyday people in this state - access to food is a huge part of that.

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?

We need to help farms diversify so that they can stay on their land doing what they love. We should encourage our farmers' natural entrepreneurship in things like agro-tourism, farm-to-table restaurants, farm stays, and solar. Other than that, we need to address the affordability crisis so that we have both workers and consumers here in Vermont in strong numbers to help support this critical sector. We should fight anti-competitive practices in the industry, including extreme consolidation, and put our small local producers first. They are the people who supply us with quality food and products. They are the stewards of our natural landscape. They are the people committed to our communities. They must come first.