COVID-19 Impacts on Food Security and Systems: A Third Survey of Vermonters

This brief report highlights the findings from a third survey of Vermonters since COVID-19. We surveyed 600 Vermonters, representative on Vermont demographics on race, ethnicity and income in August and September 2020. We find that nearly 30% of Vermont respondent households were food insecure between March and September, with households experiencing a job disruption, households with children, and respondents without a college degree at greater odds for food insecurity. One-third of respondents used some type of food assistance program since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns about food access and challenges had largely gone down, on average since March 2020; however, concerns about the cost of food and losing access to food assistance programs have gone up since March 2020. We also identify impacts on diet quality, with 25% of respondents overall, and 50% of respondents in households with food insecurity, indicating they ate fewer fruits and vegetables since COVID-19. We also document a large number of respondents (42%) engaging in home food procurement (fishing, foraging, hunting, gardening) since COVID-19, with many doing this for the first time or more intensely this year. These results highlight the depth of COVID-19\u27s impact on food security and systems over time in Vermont

Food Security Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Following a Group of Vermonters During the First Year

We surveyed a cohort of Vermonters three times during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the impacts of the pandemic on food security and food access. The surveys were conducted in March/April 2020, June 2020, and March/April 2021. A total of 441 Vermonters responded to all three surveys. This brief shares changes in their experiences between March 2020 and March 2021. Key findings include: 1. Food insecurity rates increased during the pandemic and remained above pre-pandemic levels a year after the start of the pandemic. 2. 31.6% of respondents experienced food insecurity at some point in the first year of the pandemic. Of those, 46.9% were food insecure before the pandemic, but over half (53.1%) were newly food insecure. Of the respondents who experienced food insecurity at any point during the pandemic, 61.9% were still food insecure in March 2021. 3. People without a college degree, those with a job disruption, households with children, women, and younger people had greater odds of experiencing food insecurity in March 2021. 4. Fewer respondents were using federal food assistance programs and food pantries in March 2021 compared to earlier in the pandemic. 5. More than half of respondents (54.2%) reported suffering a job disruption (i.e. job loss, reduction in work hours or income, furlough) since March 2020 and 18.4% were still experiencing a job disruption in March 2021. 6. Vermonters today are less concerned about food becoming more expensive and possible loss of food assistance programs compared to earlier in the pandemic

Persistent Diaper Need Identified During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Diaper need refers to the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or child clean, dry, and healthy. More than 1 in 3 households (36%) experienced diaper need in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Impact of Vermont\u27s Single-Use Plastics Ban on Consumers and Food Businesses

To mitigate the harmful effects of single-use plastic products and lessen the burden of plastics on Vermont\u27s landfill, in 2019, Vermont’s State Government passed a single-use products law (Act 69 of 2019). The law, which went into effect on July 1, 2020, prohibits stores and food service establishments from providing single-use plastic carryout bags at the point of sale, expanded polystyrene (commonly called Styrofoam) food and beverage containers, plastic straws (except upon customer request), and plastic stirrers. Additionally, the law permits stores to provide single-use paper bags at the point of sale if the customer is charged at least 10 cents per bag. To study the impact of the single-use products law, we conducted two statewide online surveys in 2021 and 2022: a general population survey and a food business survey. This report summarizes the findings of both surveys relevant to Vermont\u27s single-use products law. Key findings include: 1. Following implementation of the law, Vermonters reported using, on average, 91% fewer plastic bags (6 per week). This does not appear to have been offset by substantially greater use of single-use paper bags. 2. Most respondents to the consumer survey (66%) agreed that the environmental benefits of the plastic bag ban outweigh the economics costs. 3. Few consumers (18%) or food business professionals (18%) reported feeling confused about the requirements of the law. 4. Charging for paper bags was identified by food business owners and managers as the most challenging requirement to comply with. 5. Across food businesses, the law has a mostly neutral or positive effect on revenue and cleanliness. 6. Food service owners and managers report more negative impacts on operating costs, customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction than food retailers

Impact of Vermont\u27s Food Waste Ban on Residents and Food Businesses

In the United States, an estimated 30-40% of food produced each year is wasted, with most of this waste coming from households, food retailers, and food service businesses. To reduce the burden on Vermont’s only municipal landfill, the Vermont Legislature unanimously passed Act 148, a universal recycling and composting law, in 2012. Among other features, the law included a phased-in food waste ban that went into full effect on July 1, 2020. This ban requires everyone in Vermont – from residents to businesses and institutions – to keep their food waste out of the trash. To study the impact of the food waste ban, we conducted two statewide online surveys in 2021 and 2022: a general population survey and a food business survey. This policy report summarizes the findings of the surveys relevant to the food waste ban. Key findings include: 1. Following implementation of the ban, residents reported increasing the amount of food waste that they separate from their trash by 48% (from 48% to 71%). The leading disposal method for food waste is composting (46% of all food waste disposal). 2.Over a year after full implementation of the ban, about one quarter of respondents to the resident survey (26%)report feeling confused about its requirements. Oft hose who engaged in composting, one out of five (20%) find it to be hard or very hard. 3. Support for and knowledge of the food waste ban is high among Vermont’s food retail and food service professionals, and few continue to dump food waste in the trash. 4.However, over one-third of food retailers (37%), half of food service operators (53%) and two-fifths of those who run both types of businesses (40%) felt that compliance had been difficult. 5. The impacts of the ban differ for different types of food businesses, with food service businesses reporting more negative impacts on operating costs and revenue than food retailers

COVID-19 Impacts on Vermont Farms and Food Businesses: Pivots, Needs and Opportunities for the Future

This report highlights results from a survey of Vermont farm and food businesses conducted during August and September 2020, with a total of 223 respondents. The survey was distributed via a number of non-profit, business, and state agencies in Vermont. Respondents included farms, food and farm product retail, agritourism operators, on-farm food processors, food and beverage manufacturers, nurseries/greenhouses/garden centers, and food hubs/aggregators. Overall, we find the majority of respondents experienced a COVID-19 business impact, especially in market and financial ways. We also find that the majority of respondents had business changes they wanted to make, but couldn\u27t because of a lack of financial resources, inadequate equipment, or personal challenges. While the majority of respondents didn\u27t apply for COVID-19 grants and programs, those that did were significantly more likely to agree they had the financial resources to make necessary business changes. We also identify help recovery strategies including the need for market assistance to shift to online platforms. Finally, we identify that the majority of respondents indicated perceived stress at the time of the survey, further highlighting the need for mental health resources related to COVID-19. We discuss future opportunities for recovery efforts and resilience in the Vermont food system

Food Security and Assistance Programs in Vermont Before and During COVID-19

Here we surveyed a cohort of Vermonters at three time points over the first year of the pandemic. The surveys were conducted in March/ April 2020, June 2020, and March/April 2021. The demographics of the 441 Vermonters who responded to all three surveys are comparable to average Vermont demographics on income, but the respondents were more likely to have a college degree and to identify as female. This brief explores how the use of food assistance programs varied within this population and changed over the course of the pandemic. Key findings include: 1. The number of Vermonters using food assistance programs grew by 86.7% between March 2020 and March 2021 from 24.8% to 46.4%. 2. Vermonters using food assistance programs were more likely to have lower incomes and education levels, to have children, or to have experienced job disruption during the pandemic than those that did not use food assistance programs. 3. BIPOC/Hispanic Vermonters were more likely to use community-based food assistance programs (compared with federal food assistance programs) than non-Hispanic white Vermonters. 4. Worries about the qualifications, logistics, and stigma involved in using food programs grew between May/June 2020 and March 2021. 5. Experiences and perceptions of food assistance program use vary significantly between individuals using federal programs, community programs, or a combination of the two. 6. There are significant demographic differences between groups of people using federal programs, community programs, or a combination of the two

Food and Job Insecurity in Vermont During COVID-19 Infographic

This infographic details the summary results from a second Vermont survey on food and job insecurity in Vermont during COVID-19 in March and June 2020. Key results include: 1) Nearly 1 in 4 Vermonters experience food insecurity in June 2020; 2) People of color, those without a college degree, with job disruption, with children, and women were more likely to be food insecure; 3) More than 50% of Vermonters experienced job loss or disruption, and 20% received unemployment in June 2020; 4) Use of food assistance programs rose significantly between March 2020 and June 2020

COVID-19 and Food Insecurity Impacts: A Follow Up Vermont Study

This brief report details the results from a follow-up survey of 1,236 Vermonters in June 2020, after an initial survey in March/April 2020 focused on the impact of COVID-19 on food access and security. The key results include: 1) Nearly 1 in 4 respondents (23%) were classified as food insecure in June, a reported 22% decrease since March, but higher than before COVID-19. 2) People of color, those without a college degree, those with a job loss, households with children, women, and younger people had greater odds of experiencing food insecurity. 3) The majority of respondent households had experienced some job loss or disruption in the last 30 days, and were still experiencing job changes at the time of the survey. 4) People receiving unemployment were significantly more likely to be using multiple food assistance programs compared to others. 5) Respondents significantly increased use of food assistance programs since March. 6) Vermonters today have greater concerns about food becoming more expensive and possible loss of food assistance programs compared to June. 7) Vermonters today are facing fewer perceived challenges in food access and have fewer worries about food availability compared to March

Early COVID-19 Impacts on Food Retail and Restaurants: Consumer Perspectives from Vermont

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected people worldwide, disrupting food access and security. To understand how food systems and security are impacted during this pandemic, an online survey was launched in Vermont from March 29th - April 12th, 2020 (less than a week after the Governor’s Stay Home/Stay Safe order). A total of 3,219 Vermonters responded, and nearly half provided written remarks in response to open-ended questions about worries or general comments. This brief summarizes survey findings and respondent comments about food retail and restaurants. We use quantitative data to understand the frequency of beliefs and behaviors, and qualitative data to understand respondents’ experiences and perspectives in their own words. Of note, the findings reflect early responses to and concerns with food-related risk; as more information was provided by experts, these fears may have been allayed. This will be investigated in future iterations of the survey. Key findings include: Key Findings Security of the Food Supply The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected people worldwide, disrupting food access and security. To understand how food systems and security are impacted during this pandemic, an online survey was launched in Vermont from March 29th - April 12th, 2020 (less than a week after the Governor’s Stay Home/Stay Safe order). A total of 3,219 Vermonters responded, and nearly half provided written remarks in response to open-ended questions about worries or general comments. This brief summarizes survey findings and respondent comments about food retail and restaurants. We use quantitative data to understand the frequency of beliefs and behaviors, and qualitative data 1. Respondents worried about the risk of contracting COVID-19 through the food system and emphasized the importance of protecting worker health. 2. 87% of respondents usually or always reduced grocery trips in the early weeks of the pandemic in order to avoid exposure. 3. There was high demand for stores to support social distancing and reduce opportunities for disease transmission, as well as provide guidance around safe food acquisition. 4. Poor access to food delivery was a challenge, especially among those in rural areas and using public benefits to buy food. 5. Respondents were interested in supporting local restaurants, but were concerned about safety. 6. 88% of respondents felt that more trust in stores would be helpful and 65% reported that more trust in food delivery would be helpful