Melissa Battah

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 should help make sure every Vermonter has enough healthy food to eat. No one should have to choose between groceries and rent, medicine, heat, or other basic needs. Programs like 3SquaresVT should be easy to access for everyone who qualifies.

We should also support programs that help families afford fresh, locally grown food while giving farmers a fair return for their work. I support continuing universal school meals and expanding programs that connect Vermonters with food from local farms. When families have reliable access to good food and farmers can make a living, our whole state is stronger.

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

My priorities would include protecting and strengthening 3SquaresVT, supporting universal school meals, and expanding programs that help Vermonters access locally grown food.

I also want to address the costs that make it hard for families to afford groceries, including housing, health care, transportation, and energy. Supporting Vermont farmers matters too. Farmers need to be paid fairly for their work, while local food still needs to be affordable for the people who live here.

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

Hunger usually happens because people simply don’t have enough money left after paying for rent, heat, gas, medicine, and other bills. When everything gets more expensive, groceries are often the first place families have to cut back.

We need to make it easier for people to afford the basics and get the help they qualify for. That means protecting 3SquaresVT, making housing and health care more affordable, lowering energy costs, and improving transportation. No one should have to choose between buying groceries, paying the electric bill, or filling a prescription.

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 would support policies that keep Vermont farms financially viable, help new farmers and farm successors, address labor challenges, and expand markets for Vermont-grown food. State purchasing programs can create reliable markets through schools and public institutions. Supporting farmers also protects Vermont’s land, water, local economy, and access to fresh food.