Mission, Goals, Philosophies
Who We Are
Salvation Farms is a federally recognized non-profit with a mission to build increased resilience in Vermont’s food system through agricultural surplus management.
Our Mission and Vision
Salvation Farms' mission is to create a future where all are fed and farms are thriving. Through partnerships, effective use of available resources, and skill-building, we work to fully integrate surplus food from local farms into a resilient and sustainable food system.
Salvation Farms' vision is a resilient, community-based food system where farms thrive, surplus food is fully utilized, and everyone has reliable access to local, sustainable food.
Salvation Farms does good well. They're not just meeting food needs, they understand where the food system levers are, and they're meeting system needs. Kudos on a job well done.
Our 2026 to 2030 Strategic Plan focuses on three primary goals:
- Strengthening organizational resilence & culture
- Advancing food access & farm viability through surplus management
- Deepening external partnerships, communications & systems change impacts
We carry out our mission by fostering collaborative, cross sector partnership that create efficient management practices for Vermont’s farm surplus through the engagement and use of available resources, skills, and knowledge.
We are deeply rooted in the belief that small, diversified farms are the cornerstones of healthy, wholesome and stable communities and culture.
We are inspired by sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and experiential education.
Our organizational valunes include community reslience, food security, farm viability, equity, and collaboration
We believe that the best way to build lasting change is to involve people in the process; this creates ownership and intrinsic value. Food, a common and essential resource, is an extremely effective tool for social change.
As a proactive resource management organization, Salvation Farms has a vision to increase community food security, food independence, food access, food equity and food resilience in Vermont.
We strive to inspire innovative approaches that can make use of our state’s agricultural surplus.
Our programs aim to facilitate statewide connectivity to capture and move agricultural surplus produce, and potentially proteins, making them available to individuals and institutions who currently have limited access.
We define agricultural surplus as edible food that remains on farms without a market and is therefore unavailable to people.
Our Purpose, as defined in our Articles of Incorporation, is to:
- Create an agricultural surplus clearing house to capture and facilitate the movement of Vermont’s agricultural surplus fruit, vegetables and meat to make them available to institutions (such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, correctional facilities) and general public who are in need of charitable assistance in meeting basic nutritional needs; and
- Develop and educate the general public around programs, systems, and policies enhancing and supporting community food security, particularly for members of the general public and institutions in need of assistance to meet basic nutritional needs.
We accomplish our mission by:
- Developing and piloting models that coordinate and inspire agricultural surplus management at a local and regional level
- Creating awareness through community outreach and civic engagement
- Providing technical assistance and tools
- Advocating for agricultural surplus management at the state and national level