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Vital Communities invites local farms and farm-based businesses to be vendors at Flavors of the Valley on April 7 in Hartford. It’s the not-to-be-missed opportunity for businesses looking to connect directly with consumers who love local food!

Early-bird rates up to 25 percent off are available for vendors who register through February 17. This year Vital Communities is also offering mini-grants to reduce costs for farms and food businesses; registration and application details are online at vitalcommunities.org/flavors.

8TH ANNUAL SPECIALTY CROP & LOCAL FOOD TRADE SHOW IN BOSTON, TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019. The event will offer one-stop shopping for wholesale buyers seeking to expand their offering of local food, including specialty crops, value-added products, meat, dairy and seafood. At this event, buyers will have the unique opportunity to meet 100 local farmers and producers who grow and craft some of New England’s finest foods. Vendor booths are free for specialty crop producers.

Yankee Farm Credit announces organizational enhancements effective January 1, 2019 that will allow continued sustainable growth for the organization, which provides industry specific products and services to the agricultural community in Vermont and parts of New York and New Hampshire.

Vermont Community Garden Network is accepting proposals from existing and newly forming garden groups for projects that support the growth of thriving gardens. Support will be available in the form of small grants, training, and planning support. More information and online application at: http://vcgn.org/what-we-do/thriving-gardens-grant/. Applications due February 28, 2019.

Funding from the Thompson Trust and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help build resilience in Brattleboro schools.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) welcomes applications for the 2019 Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. This funding opportunity will provide awards for projects that strengthen Vermont specialty crop industries. Awarded projects will enhance the competitiveness of Vermont specialty crops defined as: fruits and tree nuts; vegetables; culinary herbs, spices, medicinal plants; nursery, floriculture, horticulture, Christmas trees; honey, hops, maple syrup; and mushrooms.

The partial federal government shutdown is putting thousands of Vermonters at risk of hunger, and some who receive 3SquaresVT (known nationally as SNAP) need to take immediate action in order to receive their food benefits for February. With the end of the shutdown still uncertain, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), one of the federal agencies impacted by the shutdown, has announced its plan to temporarily fund SNAP by issuing February benefits early. States have until January 20th to request and implement an early issuance of SNAP benefits for February.

The application period is now open for Vermont Produce Safety Improvement Grants from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

The Vermont Fresh Network’s 23rd Annual Meeting combines panel discussions with networking opportunities connecting farmers, food producers, distributors, chefs, and other culinary professionals. The day is also open to any members of the public interested in looking at the future of food in Vermont through the intersection of our chefs and farmers. This event will take place on Monday, January 28th at the UVM Alumni House in Burlington. Registration is required and available online at www.vermontfresh.net.

December 10, 2018 / Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets released two Request for Proposals (RFPs) today. VAAFM is pleased to announce the availability of up to $90,000 of funding from these two programs to assist eligible Vermont farmers and food businesses to make upgrades to their operations and improve the sustainability of their businesses. The application period for both grant programs will be open from Monday, January 7th, 2019 until Thursday, January 31st, 2019 at 12:00pm (noon). Awards will range from $2,000 to $5,000.