Steering Committee
The Steering Committee provides overall network governance and guidance for the Farm to Plate Network. It is responsible for identifying gaps in strategies, developing processes for learning, helping organize the annual F2P Network Gathering, and shaping the evolution of the Network over time. It is comprised of following members: working group chairs, co-chairs of the Food Access cross cutting team, the Secretary of Agriculture or designee, the Secretary of Commerce or designee, a representative of the Vermont Food Funders Network, and a representative of the Sustainable Agriculture Council.
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund serves as the Network Coordinator -- or Backbone Organization -- for the Farm to Plate Initiative.
According to the Collective Impact research of John Kania, Mark Kramer, and colleagues, "Collective Impact occurs when organizations from different sectors agree to solve a specific social problem using a common agenda, aligning their efforts, and using common measures of success." They identified five conditions that enable systems level change:
- A Common Agenda: the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan
- Reinforcing Activities: through the Farm to Plate Network
- Shared Measurement: the 25 Farm to Plate Goals
- Continuous Communication: through the Farm to Plate Network
- Backbone Organization: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
The Farm to Plate Initiative has developed all five conditions and is actively pursuing this Collective Impact approach to transforming our local and regional food system.
People
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Network Groups
Regina Beidler
regina.beidlerREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@organicvalley.coop
(802) 728-5601
Regina and her husband, Brent, own and operate a small organic dairy farm in Randolph Center, VT. Regina also works for Organic Valley's Farmers in Marketing Department connecting coop farmer owners to marketing activities around the region.
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Network Groups
Education and Workforce Development
Consumer Education and Marketing
Agritourism
Steering CommitteeMegan Camp
mcampREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@shelburnefarms.org
802-985-8686
Vice President/Program Director
Shelburne Farms
shelburnefarms.org
1611 Harbor Road
Shelburne VT, 05482
Vermont Farm to School Network
vermontfarmtoschool.org
1611 Harbor Rd
Shelburne Vermont, 05482
Megan Camp serves as Vice President and Program Director at Shelburne Farms providing leadership for organizational and educational program development. Much of her work over her 30 years at the Farm has focused on building public private partnerships to conduct research, influence policy, and build networks to strengthen Education for Sustainability in Vermont and around the world. Megan helped create and facilitate a multi-stakeholder process that resulted in the state of Vermont incorporating the nation’s first education standards for sustainability. She also fostered collaboration between Shelburne Farms and the Burlington School District, which led to the opening of the first public K-5 sustainability-themed magnet school in the country in 2009. Along with the Directors of NOFA Vermont and Food Works at Two Rivers she co-founded Vermont’s nationally recognized Farm to School program VT FEED. She was also a founding board member of the Farm-Based Education Network . Megan currently serves on the boards of the Castanea Foundation, the Vermont Council on Rural Development, the Vermont Fresh Network, and the Energy Action Network. She also serves on the Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council, the Farm to Plate Steering Committee and the University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences advisory board.
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Network Groups
Production and Processing
Producer and Processor Association Support
Technical Assistance Coordination
Dairy Professional Development
Farmland Access and Stewardship
Agricultural Land Use Planning
Food Cycle Coalition
Farmland Access
Financing
Soil and Water
Research
Energy
Integrated Curriculum & Flexible Pathways
Consumer Education and Marketing
Education and Workforce Development
Aggregation and Distribution
Business-Education Partnerships
Career Pathways & Image
Workforce Needs Assessment and Summit
Tech Task Force
Food Access
Eat Local Campaign
Agritourism
Farm to Institution
Food Retailers
Meat Processing
Slow Money Vermont
Independent Grocers
Labor
Farm Viability Indicators Task Force
Health
Steering Committee
Communications and Marketing Community of Practice
Rooted in Vermont®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
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Network Groups
Aggregation and Distribution
Consumer Education and Marketing
Education and Workforce Development
Farmland Access and Stewardship
Production and Processing
Energy
Financing
Food Access
Health
Labor
Research
Soil and Water
Farm to Institution
Independent Grocers
Agritourism
Communications and Marketing Community of Practice
Rooted in Vermont®
Career Pathways & Image
Business-Education Partnerships
Food Cycle Coalition
Farmland Access
Farm Viability Indicators Task Force
Slow Money Vermont
Food Access Planning
Steering Committee
Food JusticeSarah 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
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Network Groups
Production and Processing
Meat Processing
Producer and Processor Association Support
Food Safety
Dairy Professional Development
Farmland Access and Stewardship
Agricultural Land Use Planning
Food Cycle Coalition
Farmland Access
Education and Workforce Development
Aggregation and Distribution
Farm to Institution
Independent Grocers
Consumer Education and Marketing
Food Retailers
Agritourism
Food Access
Soil and Water
Research
Energy
Governor's Institute
Integrated Curriculum & Flexible Pathways
Career Pathways & Image
Business-Education Partnerships
Labor
Steering Committee
Financing
Technical Assistance Coordination
Workforce Needs Assessment and Summit
Slow Money Vermont
Eat Local CampaignEllen 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.
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Network Groups
Production and Processing
Meat Processing
Farmland Access and Stewardship
Food Cycle Coalition
Farmland Access
Education and Workforce Development
Aggregation and Distribution
Farm to Institution
Independent Grocers
Consumer Education and Marketing
Agritourism
Food Access
Financing
Soil and Water
Research
Energy
Career Pathways & Image
Business-Education Partnerships
Labor
Tech Task Force
Slow Money Vermont
Health
Farm Viability Indicators Task Force
Communications and Marketing Community of Practice
Rooted in Vermont®
Steering CommitteeLydia 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
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Network Groups
Jennifer Porter
jennieREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@nofavt.org
802-434-4122
Community Food Security Programs Coordinator
NOFA Vermont
nofavt.org
14 Pleasant Street
Richmond VT, 05477
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Network Groups
Tony Risitano
tonyrf2pREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com
802-790-0340
Aggregation and Distribution working group Co-Chair 2020-2021
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Network Groups
Consumer Education and Marketing
Communications and Marketing Community of Practice
Rooted in Vermont®
Agritourism
Aggregation and Distribution
Education and Workforce Development
Farmland Access and Stewardship
Production and Processing
Energy
Financing
Food Access
Food Cycle Coalition
Health
Research
Food Justice
Steering Committee -
Network Groups
Education and Workforce Development
Integrated Curriculum & Flexible Pathways
Steering CommitteeBetsy Rosenbluth
brosenbluthREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@shelburnefarms.org
985-8686
Vermont FEED (Food Education Every Day)
vtfeed.org
1611 Harbor Road
Shelburne VT, 05482
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Network Groups
Financing
Consumer Education and Marketing
Education and Workforce Development
Integrated Curriculum & Flexible Pathways
Agritourism
Health
Rooted in Vermont®
Business-Education Partnerships
Career Pathways & Image
Steering CommitteeLiz Ruffa
lizREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@merckforest.org
(802) 394-2579
Project Director
Northshire Grows
147 Green Peak Orchard North
East Dorset Vermont, 05253
Liz Ruffa is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Merck Forest & Farmland Center, a 3,200 acre conserved property in Rupert, VT. Merck Forest is on a mission to inspire curiosity, love and responsibility for working and natural lands. Liz lives in East Dorset where she continues to champion regional food systems through her work as a member of the Dorset Select Board.
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Network Groups
Aggregation and Distribution
Food Cycle Coalition
Education and Workforce Development
Farm to Institution
Steering CommitteeTheresa Snow
TheresaREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@salvationfarms.org
(802) 522-3148
Executive Director
Salvation Farms
salvationfarms.org
PO Box 1174
49 Portland Street
Morrisville VT, 05661
Theresa has worked in Vermont’s agricultural sector for more than 20 years. She founded Salvation Farms in 2004, receiving both regional and national awards including the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility's Young Changemaker Award. Theresa has a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management from Sterling College, has worked for Vermont agricultural businesses like Pete’s Greens and High Mowing Organic Seeds, and filled a Director of Agricultural Resources position with the Vermont Foodbank. Theresa has co-facilitated a national working group focused on infrastructure needs to manage farm surplus with the Harvard Food Law & Policy Clinic, served as an advisor for a World Wildlife Fund directed research project looking to maximize farm resources in America, and is a founding Board Member of the national Association of Gleaning Organizations. In Vermont, her work has included service to more than 100 farms, engaging community members in thousands of hours of volunteer opportunities, providing millions of servings of surplus produce to marginalized populations, offering technical assistance to partner organizations, and collaborating with diverse partners from inmates to state agencies. Theresa has a steadfast conviction for the responsible stewardship and use of our natural resources with a parallel dedication to the engagement of individuals across the socio-economic spectrum in the work that she leads.
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Network Groups
Food Access
Career Pathways & Image
Health
Steering CommitteeAndrea Solazzo
asolazzoREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vtfoodbank.org
802-917-1283
Vermont Foodbank
vtfoodbank.org
33 Parker Road
Barre VT, 05641
Andrea Solazzo is the Gleaning and Community Outreach Coordinator for the Vermont Foodbank. Based out of the Burlington area, Andrea works with partnering food shelves in Northern Vermont to implement VT Fresh, a Vermont Foodbank program that improves access and appeal for health food choices by setting-up attractive produce displays and cooking demos. In the summer months Andrea coordinates the Vermont Foodbank’s local gleaning program by working with volunteers to harvest excess produce at local farms; that produce is then distributed throughout Vermont to low-income community members. Prior to this position she led and organized international agricultural volunteer trips abroad, worked at farms in Vermont and Florida, and organized for UN-affiliated organizations around international climate justice and food sovereignty issues.
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Network Groups
Farmland Access and Stewardship
Consumer Education and Marketing
Steering Committee
Aggregation and DistributionGaye Symington
GsymingtonREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermontcf.org
(802) 388-3355
Executive Director
High Meadows Fund
highmeadowsfund.org
77 College St., Suite 3B
Burlington VT, 05401
The High Meadows Fund, based at the Vermont Community Foundation, promotes vibrant communities and a healthy natural environment in Vermont, while encouraging long term economic vitality. We focus on sustainable agriculture and local food systems; clean and efficient energy; and land use and watershed management consistent with a working landscape and vibrant village centers. We provide grants, sponsor research and convenings, invest a portion of our assets for mission impact, and directly engage in select initiatives. You can find more about us at www.highmeadowsfund.org.
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Network Groups
Anson Tebbetts
Terry.SmithREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermont.gov
Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
vermontagriculture.com
116 State Street
Montpelier VT, 05620
State of Vermont Secretary of Agriculture
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Network Groups
Production and Processing
Farmland Access and Stewardship
Farmland Access
Food Access
Research
Health
Farm Viability Indicators Task Force
Steering Committee
Food JusticeGraham Unangst-Rufenacht
grahamREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@ruralvermont.org
802-223-7222
Rural Vermont
ruralvermont.org
46 East State St
Montpelier VT, 05602
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Network Groups
Production and Processing
Consumer Education and Marketing
Eat Local Campaign
Steering Committee
Communications and Marketing Community of Practice
Rooted in Vermont®Becka Warren
beckaREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vitalcommunities.org
(802) 291-9100 x112
Manager
Valley Food and Farm
vitalcommunities.org/Agriculture/index.htm
195 North Main Street
White River Junction VT, 05001
Valley Food and Farm, a program of Vital Communities, works with farmers and consumers to strengthen the food system in Upper Connecticut River Valley of NH and VT.
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Network Groups
Education and Workforce Development
Aggregation and Distribution
Food Access
Farm to Institution
Eat Local Campaign
Health
Steering CommitteeAbbey Willard
abbey.willardREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermont.gov
(802) 272-2885
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
vermontagriculture.com
116 State Street
Montpelier VT, 05620
I actively participate in the Aggregation and Distribution Working Group, Food Access Crosscutting Team, and Farm to Institution Task Force. My position attends to the following aspects related to strengthening VT's food system: farm to institution program development, support for farmers' markets and CSAs, food access issues including EBT at farmers' markets, increasing local food in state government, food hub liaison, and management of the GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) and local food market development matching grant programs.