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Over 280 Vermont Farm to Plate Network attendees convened November 7-8, 2019 for the ninth annual Farm to Plate Gathering in Killington where attendees took a deep look at the meaning of culture and envisioning ways to move our food and farming culture forward. This year’s Farm to Plate Network Gathering focused on being at a crossroads with our food and farm culture and economy. The theme could be felt throughout the two days from the opening remarks by Jake Claro, Farm to Plate Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, to a keynote presentation by Andy Kolovos of the Vermont Folklife Center examining the lived experiences of farmers and agriculture’s influence on Vermont’s overall cultural identity, to a multigenerational panel featuring five Vermont farmers.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department in conjunction with the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Rooted in Vermont, a program of the Vermont Farm to Plate Network, is hosting Field to Fork Stories from the Green Mountains: a hunting, fishing, and foraging storytelling event at Zero Gravity Brewery in Burlington on December 3. The storytelling begins at 6pm and concludes at 8 pm.

Salvation Farms and Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley have partnered to provide a weekly supply of fresh produce to eligible patients this fall. The pilot, called Bounty Share, is an element of Salvation Farms’ Lamoille Valley Gleaning program.

On the precipice of its 100 year anniversary, New England’s dairy promotion and education group is proud to announce the completion of a rebranding effort to welcome in the next century of championing dairy in New England. Externally, New England Dairy & Food Council and its sister organization New England Dairy Promotion Board will be known as a single entity: New England Dairy (NewEnglandDairy.com).

As the Thanksgiving holiday season approaches, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) and the Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) wish to remind those planning for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that Vermont’s local turkey farms are ready to help. The time to order your local Rooted in Vermont bird is now!

November 1, 2019 | Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is now accepting applications for the Vermont Produce Improvement Grant program. Produce Safety Improvement Grants (PSIG) can partially defray the costs of implementing on-farm food safety practices to help vegetable and fruit growers transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule and/or meet market demands for on-farm food safety.

One can learn a lot about a state's agricultural and historical traditions by eating its pie. The Food Network, In search of an iconic pie for each of the 50 states, recently name Montpelier's Wayside Restaurant's maple cream pie as the iconic pie for Vermont!

As many farmers think about adapting their practices for the changing climate, Upper Valley farmers will have an opportunity on November 6 to learn about current climate change concerns and adaptation practices, tour a farm that has implemented climate change adaptive and resiliency measures, build farmer and peer connections and receive support.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is now accepting applications for two grant opportunities designed to support farm to school activities at Vermont schools and early childcare organizations. The first, the Farm to School Child Nutrition Grant, is open to schools and licensed early childcare providers who are interested in establishing or expanding a farm to school program. Grantees will receive $15,000 in financial support as well as a suite of customized technical assistance and professional development from a team of farm to school experts. More information about this two-year grant, including how to apply, is available on the Agency of Agriculture’s website here. Applications are due by November 21st at noon.

The 4th Annual Producer, Buyer and Distributor Forum took place October 16 at Middlebury College's Kirk Alumni Hall and was a sold out event.