Farm Share Program | NOFA Vermont

Farm Share Program | NOFA Vermont
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Farm Share Program
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The Farm Share Program provides fresh, local foods to Vermonters in need of financial assistance via CSA shares reduced 25-75% in cost. When you sign up for a CSA at a farm, you pay in advance for a portion (or "share") of the farm's upcoming harvest and receive a regular box of farm-fresh food all season long. This sales model provides participants with consistent access to local, in-season food and provides predictable income for farmers.
We established the Farm Share Program for Vermonters to access more healthy, local food while ensuring farmers are fully compensated for their work. The program has grown from serving a dozen individual families and three farms in 1995 to over 560 Vermont families and more than 60 farms in 2025.
Please see the FAQs below to learn more about Farm Share and find a CSA that appeals to you!
Click here for a list of participating farms
Note: At the 25% discount level, we can provide up to $175 off a share. At the 50% discount level, we can provide up to $350 off of a share. At the 75% discount level, we can provide up to $525 off of a share.
Spring/Summer Farm Share Applications closed February 28, 2026. Fall/Winter Applications will open August 1, 2026.
Program Update as of 12/1/25:
For 30 years, the Farm Share Program has distributed funding on a first-come first-served basis. In an effort to make the program more equitable to folks with various barriers, and given the rising demand for the program, we have restructured how we review applications based on the guidance of a committee made up of farmers, community members, and service providers.
As of the upcoming spring/summer cycle,
applicants will have one month to submit their application
, and then all applications will be reviewed at one time. Applications will be reviewed based on
financial need, demographic information, and household information
. Those who show a higher level of need or greater barriers to accessing local food will be prioritized to receive funding. You can
view the rubric
to learn more.
Are you an organizer of a mutual aid project that supports food security and farm viability? If you have a funding need, we welcome you to request support by contacting
[email protected]
Want to learn more about how we created the new need-based Farm Share Program application?
Read about our process and the Farm Share Advisory Committee in our
recent blog post
If you have any questions or feedback about this process, please reach out to
Avery MacLean
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“The quality and quantity of food we get through our CSA is incredible. There is just no way we'd be able to afford to eat this well without NOFA-VT’s Farm Share Program. It makes being healthy possible for my family."
- 2021 Farm Share CSA Participant
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FAQs
What is a CSA, and how does it work?
CSA (also known as Community Supported Agriculture) is a sales model that connects people directly with farmers. When you sign up for a CSA at a farm, you pay in advance for a portion (or "share") of the farm's upcoming harvest. CSA members will receive a regular (often weekly) box of farm-fresh food all season long. In addition to having a steady supply of in-season produce, you directly support local farmers and typically spend less money than when buying produce from a store.
For most CSAs, you pay a flat sum before the harvest season begins. If paying the full amount at once is not possible for you, ask your farmer about setting up a payment plan.
Every CSA farm operates slightly differently, and we encourage you to pick a CSA that works for you before applying for funding assistance through the Farm Share Program. There are a number of factors you may want to consider when choosing a CSA, including:
The variety of food
—Each CSA farm will provide different kinds of food, depending on what they grow and what partnerships they have with other farms. Some CSAs will just provide produce, meat, dairy, or processed goods like bread, while some CSAs will provide a mix of food groups.
The time and location of pickup
—Farms typically have certain times and days of the week when CSA members can pick up their shares at the farm. Some farms also offer off-farm pickup locations as an easier alternative for folks that live in towns or cities. If you need assistance with finding transportation to pick up your share, contact our Local Food Access Assistant at 802-434-7177 or
[email protected]
The cost of the share
—Costs of CSA shares vary by farm. NOFA-VT’s Farm Share Program can cover a portion of the share cost, typically up to a $350 discount.
Find a CSA farm near you by searching
NOFA-VT’s farm database
. You can filter for farms that participate in the Farm Share Program under “Payment Options”. To learn details about a particular CSA, we encourage you to look on the farm’s website or contact the farm directly.
Am I eligible for Farm Share?
Vermonters who face financial and other barriers in purchasing a CSA share may apply for the Farm Share Program. Applications will be reviewed based on financial need, demographic information, and household information. Those who show a higher level of need or greater barriers to accessing local food will be prioritized to receive funding. You can
read the rubric
used to assess applications.
Anyone is welcome to apply to this program. Please consider your available resources when making your decision and do what feels right. We do not require proof of income as part of the application.
Note: We request that applicants with an outstanding balance at a farm from a previous season not apply for additional Farm Share funds until their previous season’s funds have been spent.
What is the application process like?
Determine whether you are eligible to receive a CSA subsidy through Farm Share (see question about eligibility above).
Pick which farm you would like to receive a CSA share from.
Click here for a list of farms
, sorted by town, that are participating in Farm Share. If you are interested in a farm that is listed in the
NOFA-VT CSA Directory
, but is not listed as participating in Farm Share, feel free to contact the farm or NOFA-VT to see if they'd be interested in joining the program.
Determine what size share you would like and how much it costs. Farm Share funds are intended to be spent on food items, rather than decorative products. Visit the farm's website to learn about what share options they offer. You may have to contact the farmer for this information, if their options and prices are not posted yet. Contact
[email protected]
or 802-419-0049 if you need assistance in picking a share size or type.
Complete an online Farm Share Application. If you need to fill out a paper application, print and send it to the NOFA-VT office.
Contact
[email protected]
or 802-419-0049 if you need more assistance filling out the application.
Your application will be reviewed by NOFA-VT and you will be notified regarding your application status by April for the Spring/Summer season and by October for the Fall season.
If your application is approved, you will be provided instructions for next steps. This will include arranging payment for your portion of the CSA share directly with the CSA farm. If you are unable to pay your portion at one time, contact your farmer to set up a payment plan over the course of the season.
If your application is not selected, it will be put on a waiting list for two weeks in case funds become available. If we do not notify you that funds are available after that period, please consider applying again the following season. Applicants that are not selected for funding will receive an additional point on the rubric in the following season.
How does payment work?
The participant is expected to pay a portion (typically ½) of the cost of the share.
The other portion of the cost is paid directly to the farm mid-season, through contributions from local community members, organizations, and businesses that participate in our annual
Share the Harvest
fundraiser. The subsidy is typically 50% of the cost of a share, with a cap of $350 in order to support the greatest number of households. Participants who do not need a full 50% reduction in the share cost are encouraged to request a smaller subsidy. In turn, participants who need a 75% cost reduction (up to $525 off) may request this on the application, which may be granted if our budget allows. If we cannot provide a 75% discount, we may still be able to offer a 50% discount.
People who sign up for a CSA share through Farm Share will pay the CSA farm directly.
It is possible that your farm may accept a payment plan if you are unable to pay your part of the CSA costs in one payment. Early conversations with your CSA farmer are encouraged.
How do I determine what level of assistance to request?
In an effort to make the Farm Share Program work for a broad diversity of people, you are invited to choose which level of assistance meets your current needs. Please consider your available resources when selecting your assistance request. Below are some guidelines to reflect on, but please request the assistance amount that feels right for you and we will do our best to accommodate.
Consider 25% assistance if you:
Are employed, or have other funds available to meet your needs (e.g., through financial savings or family support)
Hold a relatively high degree of privilege due to your race, level of education, gender, immigration status, etc.
Have expendable income for travel, eating out, entertainment, etc.
Own your home
Consider 50% assistance if you:
Have received this amount of assistance in the past and found it to be necessary
Share characteristics from both the 25% and 75% considerations
Consider 75% assistance if you:
Are unemployed or underemployed
Receive SNAP, WIC, or other public benefits
Intend to pay your Farm Share cost portion through a payment plan
Support children or other dependents
Have significant debt
Have medical expenses not covered through insurance
Have unstable housing
Have immigration-related expenses
This sliding Scale is adapted from
FairShare CSA Coalition’s Partner Shares Program
When can I apply?
There are two application cycles for the Farm Share Program: summer (intended for spring and summer shares) and winter (intended for fall and winter shares).'
Summer
Applications Accepted: February 1st until February 28th.
Winter
Applications Accepted: August 1st until August 31st.
The summer and winter application cycles are designed to be available at the start of most farms' spring/summer and fall/winter seasons. However, seasons may vary among farms, and some may offer CSA share subscriptions that span different seasons than those presented by Farm Share. For example, a farm might offer a "3-season CSA" that spans spring, summer, and fall. Or, the farm may offer a discount by signing up for a year-round share. If this is the case, please indicate in your application which season(s) your share spans. NOFA-VT aims to make this program as equitable and simple as possible and
can provide a 50% subsidy on spring/summer shares and a 50% discount on fall/winter shares during the same application cycle if needed
. Please contact
[email protected]
with any questions about your subsidy amount.
What happens if my application is not accepted?
If your application is not selected for a given season, it will be temporarily put on a waiting list in case funds become available. It will remain on the waiting list for two weeks. If we do not notify you that any funds have become available during that period, we encourage you to apply again the following season. Applicants that are not selected for funding will receive an additional point on the rubric in the following season.
Are there other perks to participating in Farm Share?
Yes! If you participate in Farm Share, you may apply for scholarships to attend our annual Winter Conference and summer on-farm workshop series for free. These events offer community-building and knowledge-sharing opportunities on a wide variety of food system topics.
Households approved for the NOFA-VT Farm Share Program also receive a one-year complimentary NOFA-VT membership starting in July 2025. Our membership is made up of farmers, students, food business professionals, gardeners, homesteaders, and anyone who simply cares about how and where their food is produced coming together to help our local food system thrive. To learn more about NOFA-VT membership and member benefits, visit
nofavt.org/membership
How do I use my CSA share?
In addition to recipes your farmer might share in their weekly newsletter, food blogs and videos can provide ideas for using your CSA share contents. Below are a few:
Cooking and Nutrition videos from NOFA-Mass
Dishing Up the Dirt food blog
Cooking with Our CSA food blog
Questions?
We're happy to answer any questions you have about CSAs and the Farm Share Program. Email
[email protected]
or call (802) 419-0049 if you would like to learn more about the program.
If you are a farmer interested in participating,
email
Johanna or call (802) 419-0057.
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The Farm Share Program is generously supported by: the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets, the Vermont Department of Health, the National Life Foundation, the Kelsey Trust, the incredible restaurants and food businesses that participate in
Share the Harvest
, and many generous donors.
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