Independent Grocers

Justin Cote & Ansel Ploog

FlywheelFarmVTREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
(802) 454-1022


Flywheel Farm, LLC
flywheelfarmvt.wordpress.com
588 Rt 14
Woodbury Vermont, 05681

Chelsea Bardot Lewis

chelsea.lewisREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermont.gov
(802) 828-3360

Chelsea Bardot Lewis is an Agricultural Policy Administrator with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. She has an M.S. in Agriculture Food and Environment from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, where she conducted the research for “A capacity assessment of New England’s large animal slaughter facilities as relative to meat production for the regional food system,” published in 2011. In addition to her work with the meat industry in Vermont, she is also the director of the Vermont Food Export Program, and VAAFM's Federal Policy liaison. She and her husband Nate own Moonlight Farm in Waterbury, Vermont, an organic fruit and garlic operation.

Justin Barrett

workREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@piecemealvt.com
(541) 510-5873

chef owner
Piecemeal Pies
piecemealpies.com
5 South Main Street
White River Junction Vermont, 05001

Natalie Bekkouche

natalieREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@salvationfarms.org


Salvation Farms
salvationfarms.org
PO Box 1174
49 Portland Street
Morrisville VT, 05661

Kate Bowen

kategraves2REMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@yahoo.com
(802) 387-2391


Meadowdale Farm
meadowdalefarm.com
16 Spring Hill Rd
Putney VT, 05346

Secretary
Farmer Veteran Coalition of Vermont
facebook.com/farmerveterancoalitionofvermont
16 Spring Hill Road
Putney VT, 05346-8892

I'm Kate from Meadowdale Farm. I'm a first generation farmer living my dream of owning a diversified farm in the town where I grew up. We are a traditional Vermont Hill Farm raising: meat, eggs, hay, sap, and forest products. My mission is to serve and support Vermont's rural traditions and its Working Landscape while producing outstanding quality products. Check out our website for a virtual tour of our farm and follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

Ember Boyle

HappyBirdPoultryFarmREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
802-343-4182

owner
Happy Bird Poultry Farm, LLC
HappyBirdPoultryFarm.com
568 Main St
Isle La Motte Vermont, 05463

Happy Bird Poultry Farm, LLC started as two couples growing their own chicken. One year we (The Boyles) gave some of our homegrown chicken as gifts for Christmas and WOW! It was popular so we grew more and more each year. Then we added the smokehouse and farm market. We now offer a diverse variety of local food and non food items for sale. Our chicken is still grown here on the farm and is now (as of 2017) processed by us in our on farm VT Department of Agriculture inspected poultry processing plant. We aren't a deli or restaurant but we do offer some awesome foods for you to take home and share with family and friends. Real smoke, real flavor, low and slow!

Jake Claro

JakeREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
(802) 828-5669

Farm to Plate Program Director
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

Elizabeth Cullen

bethREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@localvore.co
(347) 528-5446


Localvore
localvore.co
60 Lake Street Suite 1f
Burlington Vermont, 05401

Beth Cullen is in National Sales at Locavore.co. She moved with her family from Brooklyn to Burlington in 2011, aspiring to apply her traditional business skills to farm and food enterprises. To balance her love of cooking and dining out, Beth enjoys hiking, rock climbing and snowboarding. She now lives in Charlotte, and serves on the board of Slow Food Vermont and the Burlington Farmers Market Steering Committee.

Catherine Cusack

ccusackREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmfts.org
802-334-2044

Sarah Danly

sarahREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
(802) 828-3745

Farm to Plate Network Manager
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

Sona Desai

sonaREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@Intervale.org
(802) 660-0440 x 112

Sona Desai is the Intervale Food Hub Manager and has led the development of the enterprise since inception in 2007. She manages overall business communications, sales outreach and growth in addition to production planning and procurement with farmers. Sona also leads the Intervale Center's broader market development and consumer education efforts. She has an extensive background in farming, food marketing, food procurement and small business management and is committed to developing new and sustainable markets for Vermont farmers. Sona also serves on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT).

Matthew DiLuzio

ngm01301REMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
(413) 768-9745

Co-owner
Fungal Forest
527 Neal rd
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION VT, 05001

I'm a new gourmet mushroom farmer located in White River Junction. We are cultivating a variety of oyster mushrooms, lions mane, maitake, shitake, pioppino, brick cap, and many more on the horizon. My buddy Jesse and I make it our mission to bring in a new level of sustainability to mushroom production by eliminating the use of non-recyclable plastic and lowering our energy use by utilizing inovative sterilization techniques. We are in the design stages of integrating mushroom production into a permaculture-based perrenial gardern.

Stephenie Frawley

stephREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@roadtripfoodcompany.com
(802) 238-9600

Founder
Road Trip Food Company
roadtripfoodcompany.com
Dorset
Dorset Vermont, 05251

Road Trip is one of the newest and fastest-growing artisanal food companies from Vermont. Our focus is great tasting, gourmet foods from the finest locally-sourced ingredients. Our Vermont Fudge Sauce combines the nostalgia of traditional hot fudge with a spirit of fun and casual living. Made in small batches for discriminating foodies who don’t have time to make such a rich sauce from scratch, Vermont Fudge Sauce fits their active lifestyle to a tee.

Annie Harlow

f2pretailservicesREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
802-922-7060

Board of Directors- Vice Chair; Project Manager, USDA Farm to School Grant Manager; Editor Cultivating Connections Monthly E-News
Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN)
acornvt.org
P.O. Box 65
Middlebury VT, 05753

I live in Addison County, VT and am an independent consultant working with farmers, food producers and retailers on operational efficiency and marketing. For several years I have been involved in the Independent Retail Grocers Project with VT Farm to Plate. The work includes research on local food sold at VT stores, on-site merchandising and the Take 5 online retail training series geared to operations that increase local foods sales. I send out a monthly email directed to coops and independent stores goes out to retail grocers and technical advisers. I write a monthly Farm to Plate email to retailers; Take 5 Small Bites. I focus on tips, trends and highlights from Vermont retailers. Find the sign up for the tips and other tools for retailers at the Farm to Plate: http://www.vtfarmtoplate.com/features/take-5-retail-training#.W-sJstVKjIU I organize ACORN'S Producer Buyer Forums, where B2B and peer to peer networking takes place promoting the production and sale of VT products to the regional market. Find out more at ACORNvt.org Additionally, through Health Care Without Harm I have tracked local and sustainable food purchases at hospitals in Vermont and coaching and mentoring to shift purchases. Through my work with ACORN, I support the effort for relocalizing the Addison County farm and food economy. My background includes apprenticing at the USCS Apprenticeship aka CASFS. This led me to working as a wholesale grower, retail produce buyer and as a distribution sales rep focused on sales to institutions and retailers. Besides all the fresh produce and work as an advocate for local foods, I have worked breeding goats for Heifer International. For 3 season fun, I am an avid ornamental gardener.

Jim Harrison

jimREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vtrga.org
(802) 839-1928

The Vermont Retail & Grocers Association is a statewide trade association representing all sectors of the Vermont retail and food industry. Approximately 800 stores belong to the organization, including supermarkets, general merchandise stores, florists, drug stores, convenience, country stores and more along with over 250 suppliers to the industry including over 130 Vermont specialty food producers under the Vermont Specialty Food Association umbrella.

Ali Hartman

aliREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@mktgrafton.com
(856) 305-6926

Owner
MKT: Grafton
mktgrafton.com
162 Main Street
Grafton Vermont, 05146

MKT was born in the summer of 2015 from a love of good food and great community. Its owners, Ali Hartman and June Lupiani, are friends, foodies, and moms with a love of their homes in Grafton. They wanted to build something great in this little community. Something designed to deliver goodness, kindness, deliciousness in everyday moments. They knew their experiences and skills were worth more together than apart, so they joined forces and jumped in. The women are working together to bring the concept to life, creating menus, restoring a 200 year old building, designing events, and gathering neighbors. We are proud to provide exceptional food in a gorgeous Vermont setting. In addition to our range of cheese, meat, bakery and groceries, MKT offers breakfast and dinner to go, brunch on the weekends and lunch everyday. We are a premier caterer of special events in Southern Vermont, producing delicious, unforgettable meals for our clients. MKT is the product of our passion and our purpose. We couldn't be more excited to share it with you.

Mike Heath

MikeREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@kingdomcrust.com
802-751-8500

Owner
Kingdom Crust Company
kingdomcrust.com
1216 Railroad St
St Johnsbury VT, 05819

Kingdom Crust Co. serves traditional hand tossed brick oven pizza. We strive to use only locally sourced, minimally processed ingredients. Our meats and toppings are cooked fresh on site. Our dough is made from locally produced unbleached and unbrominated King Arthur Flour. Our fried fare is cooked in heart healthy, GMO and soy free sunflower oil.

Adam Howe

InfoREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@howeverwildhoney.com
802-733-4761


However Wild Honey
howeverwildhoney.com
1242 Myers Road
Shaftsbury Vermont, 05262

However Wild Honey is a family owned and operated apiary located in Shaftsbury, Vermont. Our primary product is unprocessed and unfiltered Raw Honey. We also seasonally produce nucleus colonies and queens.

Kristen Hughes

krunyonhughesREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@nmcinc.org
802.524.1219

More to come....

Joy Jackson

jacksonseggsnmoreREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
802-324-3653

Head Egg Collector
Jacksons Eggs N More
346 Jackson Road
Panton Vermont, 05491

We raise healthy and happy chickens that produce delicious eggs! For the past 10 years we have been able to serve the local markets and many families with our eggs as well as fresh produce from our garden! We feed our birds a mix of corn and grain and they get lots of treats from the garden. We deliver locally in Vergennes to your door or feel free to stop by and pick up. We guarantee you will Love our eggs and produce or your Money Back!

Ellen Kahler

ellenREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
(802) 828-5320

Executive Director
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

I assist in coordinating the Farm to Plate Network and our organization is responsible for implementing the Farm to Plate Initiative, at the request of the Vermont Legislature. I serve on the Boards of Red Tomato, the Working Lands Enterprise Fund, and the Sustainable Agriculture Council. I am also active in helping other New England states in developing their own food system plans and implementation efforts.

Alissa Matthews

alissa.matthewsREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermont.gov
802-505-1661


Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
vermontagriculture.com
116 State Street
Montpelier VT, 05620

Katie Michels

katieREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vhcb.org


Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB)
vhcb.org
58 East State Street
Montpelier VT, 05602

Charlie Mitchell

charlieREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@tom.org

Co-CAO
MIddlebury Foods
middleburyfoods.com
118 South Main St
Middlebury Vermont, 05753

Middlebury Foods Co-CAO, rising sophomore at Middlebury College from greater Boston.

Riley Neugebauer

rileyneugebauerREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com


Farm to Institution New England
farmtoinstitution.org
3 Linden Road
Hartland VT, 05048

I have focused much of my working life after graduation from Allegheny College on sustainability and food systems, community organizing, and youth engagement. She served previously at both American University and Skidmore College as a Sustainability Coordinator and has helped both of those campuses start successful CSA programs with local farmers, and spent significant time at Skidmore in partnerships with students, faculty, dining services, distributors, and the Real Food Challenge to assess and analyze the local food purchases of the college and collaborate on plans to increase these purchases. Riley also worked with Center for Whole Communities and Knoll Farm in the Mad River Valley of Vermont. Riley currently serves as the Farm & Sea to Campus Coordinator for Farm to Institution New England (FINE), and is based in midcoast Maine.

Kelly Nottermann

kellyREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
(802) 828-1121


Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

Robert Oeser

Robt.OeserREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
518-505-9031


Loaves & Fishes
193 Main Street
Brattleboro Vermont, 05301

Lydia Pitkin

lydiaREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
802-828-5670

Office Manager & Program Coordinator
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

Scott Sawyer

scottREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org

I edited the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan and wrote many of the sections. And I worked with Vermont Design Works to create the Farm to Plate website.

Lynn Ellen Schimoler

LynnEllen.SchimolerREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermont.gov
802-622-4477


Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
vermontagriculture.com
116 State Street
Montpelier VT, 05620

Lynn Ellen Schimoler is the Senior Agricultural Business Development Program Manager for Working Lands at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Schimoler has worked in the Natural Foods Industry for over 20 years. Her experience includes working for independently owned markets in CA,NH and VT, collaborating with the National Cooperatives Grocers to develop retail Co-ops around the US, and working as Director of Purchasing and Merchandising for City Market/Onion River Co-op. Schimoler has expertise in business planning, retail operations,public speaking and management. Schimoler has a BA in Dance from Bennington College, and is a part-time Dance Lecturer at the University of Vermont.

Jonathan Slason

jonREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@harlowfarm.com
(802) 376-9421

Farm Business Manager
Harlow Farm
harlowfarm.com
117 Deep Root Drive
Westminster VT, 05158

Karen Dillon and Stephen Pite

smp109REMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
(802) 279-3300

Co-Owner
Willett's Bend Farms
2664 Rt 12
Berlin
Berlin Vermont, 05602

Filmmakers. Educators. Idealists. Farmers. Moved from Kansas where we ran a magazine dedicated to promoting the sustainable farming in NE Kansas and a small sheep (fiber) operation. Start up goat dairy and larger scale sustainable crop farming here in Central VT with high hopes!

Elizabeth Theriault

elizabethREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@rutlandfarmandfood.org
(802) 417-1528

I provide outreach and education to consumers, and provide technical assistance and support, as well as networking and better access to resources, for farmers in the Rutland Country.

Hector Vila

vilahector1REMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
(802) 989-8025

Owner
Orchard Grass Farm
orchardgrassfarm.com/about
3969 Munger Street
New Haven Vermont, 05472

Orchard Grass Farm raises grass-fed White Dorper Sheep. We are located in New Haven, VT, and on these 47 acres we're trying to make a go of a small, sustainable farm. After working our way into the land for a few years, after some horses (9 years), the land spoke: Take me back to my beginnings, it said. Once a sheep farm, this land has returned to its roots.

Sarah Waring

sarahREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@hardwickagriculture.org
(802) 472-5362

Executive Director
Center for an Agricultural Economy
hardwickagriculture.org
140 Junction Road
Hardwick VT, 05843

I have the privilege of working with many talented folks in and around Hardwick Vermont, in my role at the Center for an Agricultural Economy. Our organization operates the Vermont Food Venture Center - a shared use, semi-automated food processing facility, which specializes in helping small and start-up food businesses, and helping farmers with value-added farm products. This facility has 3 industrial kitchens, and can help with business planning, recipe development, marketing, labelling, co-packing and other services. The Center also works on food access, hunger relief, and education and outreach: running educational tours, community classes, hosting the Hardwick Community Gardens, facilitating local foods into our local food pantry and more. We are a part of food center/food hub networks, Farm to Plate working groups as well as New England regional conversations on food systems infrastructure and food access. We work to support strong farmers, healthy communities, and engaged, proactive consumers.

Jessica Waters

feedmeREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@woodburyvillagestore.com
802-472-3500

Proprietor
Woodbury Village Store
facebook.com/woodburyvillagestore
21 Valley Lake Rd
Woodbury Vermont, 05681

The Woodbury Village Store is a community country Store that values the relationship between farmers, food producers and the community.

Nicola Williams

nicolaREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@thewilliamsagency.net
(617) 395-7680

President
The Williams Agency
thewilliamsagency.net
144- A Mount Auburn St.
Cambridge Massachusetts, 02138

Nicola A. Williams President, The Williams Agency Nicola Williams is the founder and owner of, The Williams Agency, a full service marketing consulting firm with a focus on sustainable food, culture, health and the environment. The Agency is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and works regionally in New England. Under Nicola’s leadership, The Williams Agency, which has been operating since 1995, have received numerous awards for its work in sustainable food, environment and health awareness campaigns. Recently, Nicola was recognized as a 2015 Cambridge Food Hero. Nicola has over 20 years of experience with expertise in marketing strategy, grassroots marketing, and business strategy. Boston and Vermont JerkFests, the agency’s own signature projects are rooted in Nicola’s Jamaican culture, and are built upon the values she cares deeply about such as sustainable food, diversity, localism, and respect for the environment. Nicola is a recipient of many awards and has been featured in local and national media, including Black Enterprise magazine, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Boston Business Journal. Nicola currently serves on the boards of the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts and Cambridge Carnival International, Inc., and is an active member in SBN’s Local Food Committee, Food Solutions New England, and the Fish Locally Collaborative organized by Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance. Prior to The Williams Agency, Nicola was a Consultant for Cambridge Business Development, a non-profit agency whose mission was to assist businesses to start, develop, and grow.

Heather Winther

heatherREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vtrga.org
(802) 839-1928

Director of Events & Marketing
Vermont Retail and Grocers Association
vtrga.org
963 Paine Turnpike North
Berlin Vermont, 05602