The LOCAL Foods Act Update

We want to let you know that as of Monday, November 17th, VT Congresswoman Balint has signed on to HR 5341, the Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act of 2025, completing our Vermont delegation's commitment to supporting not only our Vermont farmers and agrarian communities, but those across the nation. 

As you may know, since 2022, the National Family Farm Coalition, Rural Vermont, the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, and the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund have been advocating for the clarification and protection of longstanding on-farm slaughter practices. On-farm slaughter supports resilient local meat supply chains, gives producers the business security they need, supports better animal welfare, and allows consumers to have more food choices. Put simply, the LOCAL Foods Act will clarify and protect on-farm slaughter by making a simple change to the Federal Meat Inspection Act’s “personal-use exemption.” 

We thank our hard-working Vermont farmers and communities for supporting this bill and making Vermont stand out, once again, as a national leader on issues that matter to rural communities across the country! 

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