MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Gov. Phil Scott on Friday signed an executive order creating the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Vermont Agriculture to come up with ways to grow and expand Vermont’s agriculture.
“The pandemic has further emphasized how important agriculture is to Vermonters and highlighted gaps in our food system. So, as we recover, we must continue to advocate for investing in Vermont communities and the work of the people who make their living off the land,” Scott said in a written statement.
The panel will be co-chaired by the secretaries of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. The governor will appoint up to 12 other members including those who represent dairy and maple and experts in food systems and in environmental and land use issues, the governor’s office said. The commission will provide a report to the governor in November.
“This commission will lead to economic development in the agricultural sectors by helping farmers, producers and businesses create new markets and new jobs,” Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said in a written statement. “It’s important we do this work today and for future generations.”
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