Winter webinars and workshops: “Extreme Home Composting” taught by Highfields staff
This winter, Vermonters will have a chance to attend a number of free home composting classes to help them reduce the amount of organic waste they send to the landfills. In a series of USDA-sponsored online “webinars” and in-person workshops in January, February and March, staff of the Highfields Center for Composting will show participants about the benefits of compost, compost system options, and how to maintain their pile to produce high-quality, nutrient-rich compost.
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2013 Farm to Plate Annual Report Released
Since 2009—when Farm to Plate legislation was passed and the national recession ended—Vermont’s food system added at least 2,162 jobs and 199 establishments! All over the country, Vermont is now being looked to as the leading example of how to transform our food system. Public and philanthropic investment (grants and loans) in farms and food system enterprises was more than $70 million in 2013. In this annual report we share three Blue Ribbon Stories that illustrate activities that are emerging across the Network.
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Stonyfield launches project to increase organic dairy production in Northeast
In June of 2013 Stonyfield launched a project to investigate the opportunities for growing organic dairy production in the Northeast. We have spent the months since then talking to farmers, agriculture extension agents, state departments of agriculture, researchers, economists, investors and lenders, feed suppliers, land trusts, farming organizations, and other dairy related businesses in the Northeast to get their input on the challenges and opportunities for growing organic dairy in this region.
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Food Cycle Coalition is the Farm to Plate Task Force Linking Food Systems and Waste Management
The Farm to Plate Network’s Food Cycle Coalition Task Force, which includes staff members from the Agency of Natural Resources, is playing a big role in helping to plan and implement the actions needed to reach the goal of 100% diversion of all organic materials from our landfills by 2020!
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Vermont Law School & Nat'l Farm to School Network release farm to school legislative survey
Vermont Law School's Center for Agriculture and Food Systems and the National Farm to School Network collaborated to produce and release a national survey compiling state farm to school legislation proposed between 2002 and November 2013, whether enacted, defeated, or still pending. The survey is an invaluable tool to state governments, schools and advocates seeking to develop and implement farm to school programs.
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National coverage of Vermont FEED's New School Cuisine Cookbook
Check out the AP story on Vermont's New School Cuisine Cookbook featuring local seasonal fresh foods
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Shelburne Welcomes Food Businesses, Commits to Facilitating Growth
The team behind Shelburne Green South is gaining momentum, and their goal of creating a gateway to Vermont’s rich agricultural and forestry offerings may soon become a reality.
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Growing Outside the Box Celebrated at NOFA-VT Winter Conference
With winter underway and the 2013 growing season now to bed, preparations for the 2014 year are upon us. For over 1,500 organic producers and consumers, that means it is time to gather inspiration for the new growing season at Vermont’s largest agricultural conference. The 32nd annual Winter Conference from the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), will be held February 15-17th at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
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FDA Announces Revised Key Provisions of Proposed FSMA Rule Language Affecting Farmers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that they will propose revised rule language and open another comment period on two Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules, Produce Safety and Preventive Controls for Human Food. FDA anticipates rule language to be published by early summer 2014 to be followed by a public comment period.
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Annual VT Farm Show Returns to Essex Junction Jan. 28,29,30
The Annual Vermont Farm Show returns to the Champlain Valley Fair Grounds in Essex Junction for another exciting year! Scheduled as always for the last Tuesday through Thursday in January, this year’s dates are January 28-29-30.
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DairyVision Vermont Seeks Enrollees in new dairy management program
A group of dairy farmers and dairy industry representatives recently launched a new program called DairyVision Vermont to assist and support dairy farm operations in building successful businesses. DairyVision Vermont will organize service provider teams composed of experts in all the aspects of dairy operations to work with individual farms to identify and implement steps to enhance profitable dairy production. The new program has secured a group of nationally recognized service providers, hired administrative staff and secured funding to launch the program.
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Reminder: Chuck Ross, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, will Hold Listening Sessions in Bennington (1/7) & St. Albans (1/10)
Come share your feedback with Vermont's Ag Secretary! Get your new year started right, by joining the conversation!
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