New Report Highlights Opportunity to Expand Vermont’s Wool and Fiber Economy

A new report from the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF)  finds that Vermont produces substantial quantities of wool each year, yet much of it remains underused due to limited processing capacity and barriers to market access. The report, Vermont Wool Production: Challenges and Pathways Forward, is based on a statewide survey and interviews with farmers and processors that reveal both the potential and persistent bottlenecks within the sector.

The study finds that Vermont produces meaningful quantities of wool each year, yet a significant portion remains unused or undervalued. Limited processing capacity, high costs, and barriers to market access continue to make it difficult for farmers to turn raw wool into viable products. The report identifies several pathways for growth, including expanding small batch custom milling, developing markets for low value or waste wool, and encouraging greater collaboration across the fiber supply chain.

“Vermont’s farmers are producing an incredible natural resource, but too much of our wool is still going to waste,” said Christine McGowan, VSJF Forest and Fiber Program Director. “By improving access to processing and building stronger markets for locally grown fiber, we can create new economic opportunities for farmers and strengthen the sustainability of Vermont’s working lands.”

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund produced the report with support from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. The research and analysis were conducted by Allison Dubick, a graduate of the University of Vermont’s Sustainable Innovation MBA (SIMBA) program. VSJF extends its gratitude to the many Vermont farmers and shepherds who participated in the survey and interviews that informed this work.

Click to read the full report.

About The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is a nonprofit organization committed to nurturing sustainable economic development to benefit Vermont’s people, communities, and environment. Through business assistance, network development, strategic planning, and supply chain coordination, VSJF supports innovation and resilience in agriculture and food systems, forest and fiber products, renewable energy, environmental technology, and waste management. VSJF was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1995 to partner with state government, private sector businesses, and nonprofits to catalyze systems-level change and build a thriving, equitable, and ecologically sound future for Vermont.