Vt. governor touts expansion of CSA farm program

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says the state is expanding statewide what was a three-county pilot program to get state employees involved in community-supported agriculture.

So-called CSA farms recruit consumers to sign up by making payments to farmers in the spring. Farmers then use the money as working capital and consumers get locally produced food as crops come in and animals are slaughtered.

Vermont launched an effort to get state employees to participate in such programs in Washington, Addison and Windsor counties last year.

Laura Olsen of the Green Mountain Girls Farm in Northfield said her farm saw 20 percent more CSA members as a result. Now Shumlin and Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross say they want to take the program statewide.