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Vermont’s rural communities are intricately tied to our economy, identity and way of life. At the same time, all of Vermont suffers when our farm and forestry sectors falter.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces the availability of grant funds for the purpose of strengthening Vermont’s specialty crop industries and improving the performance of Vermont specialty crops within local, domestic, and international markets. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture crops (including honey, hops, and maple syrup), and nursery crops (including Christmas trees and floriculture). Interested applicants must submit a pre-application by February 26, 2020.

Food Connects Farm to School Conference will return this year on April 8. Hosted at the SIT Campus, the conference will bring together teachers, administrators, school nutrition professionals, parents, and other school-based staff for a day of learning, networking and resource sharing.

Accepting applications now through February 19

Testing an aerated static pile (ASP) compost system for efficiency of time and space.

Thanks to a two-year $55,550 grant from the Claneil Foundation, Food Connects will increase support to child nutrition professionals, and their school partners, to reduce food waste and increase food access.

Sheila Humprheys, Food Connects’ Farm to School Coordinator, and Ali West of Fresh Picks Cafe and the Brattleboro Town Schools’ Food Service Director, will present at the 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. The conference will take place from April 21 to 23 in Albuquerque, NM.

University of Vermont and State Agricultural College and Norwich University, in partnership with Sodexo, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the UVM Medical Center, Vermont Food Venture Center, and the Pioneer Valley Growers Association wins $250,000 Henry P. Kendall Foundation prize to increase local and regional food on college campuses.

The online lease builder is part of the Farmland Access Legal Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to help farmers affordably access, transfer, and conserve farmland.

Food Connects hosted their Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on December 12, 2019, at their Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) Business Park location to celebrate the unveiling of their new 1,000 square foot cooler and freezer.