Ruth Hardy

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?

One of the most important roles of government is to provide a basic safety net for residents, this includes access to healthcare, education, public safety, and also food. Food has always been a basic necessity of life and the government should adopt policies and programs that help ensure everyone has access to food. Especially in Vermont, where food is such an important part of our culture and economy, we must make sure all Vermonters have access to healthy, affordable food.

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

During my eight years in the Senate, food security has been one of my policy priorities. Since my first session on the Agriculture Committee where I worked with colleagues to improve access to local foods in school meal programs and moved forward the idea of universal school meals, I have been a vocal proponent and key strategist for moving food security legislation forward. I am the lead sponsor of the Farm & Forestry Security Special Fund legislation, a co-sponsor of the universal school meals legislation, and supporter of Vermonters Feeding Vermonters legislation. I have also introduced legislation to expand SNAP eligibility and promote local restaurants as important sites of food access. I will continue to lead on food security issues, push to ensure the Farm Security Fund has funding allocated for it, protect universal school meals & SNAP, and continue to support local farmers, food producers, and food providers.

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

I agree that when people are struggling to meet their own basic needs, they often sacrifice healthy food in order to save money. I grew up in a household that was often food insecure, but my father was too proud (and stubborn) to allow my mother to access food assistance programs for our family of six. So, I know first-hand what it's like to live in a house without enough food. We need to ensure that Vermonters have access to affordable housing, healthcare, food and other basic needs, so they don't have to make tough choices about which should come first. We also need to make good, affordable food is more accessible to Vermonters, near where they live in, and that they have the transportation necessary to get to the grocery store, farmer's market, community meal site, etc. We need to protect programs that provide access to food, like SNAP, universal school meals, meals-on-wheels, childcare & summer meals programs, community meal sites, etc. My family motto is good food helps because a good family meal always makes things better. I want that for everyone.

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 grew up working on farms, and spent much of my childhood in the barn or the field, so I know how hard farmers work to make a living. I also represent the state's most diverse agricultural county, so farming is an important part of my district's economy. I am incredibly grateful for the diversity, quality, and accessibility of local food and farm products in Vermont. We need to ensure that farmer's have access to basic needs just like everyone else -- affordable housing, healthcare, childcare & education, and food. We need to improve basic infrastructure that farmers depend on to get their products to market or supplies to the farm, including rural roads, internet, and utilities.

Access to labor and markets is an issue for many farmers, so we need to push back on federal policies that jeopardize guest worker & immigrant farm worker visas, or hurt international markets & trade that impact both the sale of products and the cost of goods. We also need to promote production & processing facilities in Vermont, expand ways for farmers to generate revenue, and protect farm security and land access programs. Finally, I think it's important to make sure that farmers have a seat at the table, and I have consistently advocated for that in legislation and in recruiting a running mate, so that we can have a farmer's voice in the Senate.