Julie Filiberti
Democratic Candidate for Vermont House of Representatives in the Franklin-1 District
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?
No one in Vermont should go through a day hungry, and government should provide support for current systems in place as well as support for new creative ideas to be sure that Vermonters are getting the nutrition they need.
What would be your policy priorities to move Vermont toward food security for all?
All communities need to have a food shelf or feeding system in place and reduce the barriers for their citizens to access the food they need, so I would support policies that make local food accessible for all who need it.
What do you believe are the root causes of hunger, and what should the state do to address those underlying factors?
Low wages, lack of transportation for work, crushing inflation, and now a lack of federal dollars to help all contribute to hunger in our state. Vermont can't replace those lost federal dollars, but can support the ingenuity of its citizens with policy when they come up with solutions to tackle the problem.
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?
All initiatives and laws need to be looked at through the lens of "what does this mean for Vermont's farmers and Vermont's working landscape". Our working landscaped defines Vermont and the quality of life that we have, and the continuing loss of small family farms proves that we are currently prioritizing the wrong things.