Mike Rice

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?

Ensuring that everyone living in Vermont has the food they need to thrive should be treated as an urgent priority by state government. That's why during my previous term in the house, I helped lead the way on making universal school meals permanent and funding food security programs.

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

I will continue to prioritize programs that tackle food insecurity while supporting Vermont farmers, including defending universal school meals against budget-related attacks, fighting for full funding of programs like Crop Cash and Vermonters Feeding Vermonters, and working to find a funding stream for the Farm Security Fund so that the farmers who help feed Vermonters have a safety net in the face of increasing climate-related disaster risk.

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 tied to broader systemic issues, including wages that don't keep up with the cost of living, lack of access to quality affordable housing, healthcare, and childcare, and deep race and class-based inequity. The state must work to address these deeper, systemic causes while also working to end hunger through more direct action.

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 have supported Vermont farmers through the creation of new grant programs that support their transition and diversification and changes to regulations that make it easier to sell their products directly to consumers and to generate on-farm revenue. I will continue to look for ways to make it easier for farmers to access land, generate revenue, and deliver their high-quality products to market.