A new report says the number of food-related jobs in Vermont has grown by 11 percent, or 5,300, between 2009 and 2014. The data is from the latest annual report from Farm to Plate, a 10-year plan to boost Vermont's food and farm economy.
Legislators on Wednesday got a midpoint update on the plan to strengthen Vermont's food system.
According to the report, local food purchases have increased by $189 billion between 2010 and 2014 and now make nearly 7 percent of total food purchases in the state.
Food system gross sales have risen 32 percent and net value-added food manufacturing has increased 58 percent from 2004 to 2013.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.