VT Community Loan Fund SPROUT Financing Available to Early Stage VT Farmers & Working Lands Entrepreneurs
The Vermont Community Loan Fund has announced the second round of SPROUT, a low-interest loan program for emerging working lands entrepreneurs. The financing program was created to meet the capital needs of Vermont farms, food producers and processors, foresters, forest products businesses and others in the start-up and early stages of operations. Loan applications are now being accepted.
Read More Rural Vermont Raffles Gifts from Darn Tough, Fair Winds Farm, and Nutty Steph's
Rural Vermont's popular fall raffle returns with three incredible prizes! Tickets available online now and in person at their Annual Meeting on November 5th from 6-9pm at the Evening Star Grange in Dummerston. Winners drawn that night - need not be present to win.
Read More Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Coupon Program Increases Access to Healthy Foods in the NEK
For the fourth consecutive year, Green Mountain Farm-to-School is offering $60,000 in coupons for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables to the residents of Essex and Orleans counties enrolled in 3SquaresVT, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Read More Hunger Mtn Co-op $100,000 Investment in VT Community Loan Fund
Hunger Mountain Co-op, Montpelier’s community-owned natural food cooperative, has announced it will invest $100,000 in the Vermont Community Loan Fund in support of the Loan Fund’s Food, Farms & Forests Fund.
Read More World Wildlife Fund to join Salvation Farms-facilitated panel at Vermont Farm to Plate Gathering
Salvation Farms will raise the profile of food loss on-farms across America at the Vermont Farm to Plate Annual Gathering in Killington on November 1st during a workshop titled “What If We Ate What We Grew?” This session will include presentations from and a dialogue with individuals engaged in on-farm food loss research, including representatives from the World Wildlife Fund and North Carolina State University.
Read More Food Connects Gets a New Ride
Food Connects expands its wholesale delivery with a new van
Read More Salvation Farms Founder/Executive Director receives VBSR’s Young Changemaker Award
Theresa Snow, Salvation Farms Founder/Executive Director, received the Vermont Business for Social Responsibility (VBSR) Young Changemaker Award on September 20th. The Award is given in recognition of an individual who has led the formation of a socially responsible enterprise and uses the power of business to advance innovative solutions to society’s challenges for the good of the planet, their employees, their community, and economic growth.
Read More Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Awards Announced - Over $332K Directed to Nine Agricultural Organizations
October 2, 2018 / Montpelier VT - The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets announces grants totaling $332,632.61 for twelve projects to benefit Vermont producers of fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, maple, wine grapes, and value-added products and to increase consumer access to locally produced food.
Read More Sodexo's Vermont First, VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets and VT Farm to Plate launch Taking Root Student Symposium
On October 28th, Sodexo’s Vermont First, Farm to Plate, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture are hosting the Taking Root Student Symposium at the University of Vermont. This symposium is designed for all Vermont college students to celebrate farm to institution and learn about what it means to chart a career in food. We are pleased to share that our keynote speaker will be Ben Hewitt, a Vermont-based author of many books including The Town That Food Saved and Making Supper Safe. Throughout the day, students will learn about: Why farm to institution is important Innovative work happening in Vermont’s food system Career paths of many of Vermont’s leading entrepreneurs and thinkers Resources available at each campus for students to pursue food systems-relevant coursework as well as food-related employment Current food-related job opportunities; students will also have time to network directly with some Vermont employers in the food industry.
Read More Drought Relief for Livestock Producers in VT-Apply by October 19
Producers in Franklin, Addison, Chittenden, Washington, Lamoille, Rutland, Caledonia, and Orleans can apply by October 19 for practices including pipelines, wells, and pumps
Read More DEADLINE EXTENDED: Help Rural Vermont Set Its Policy Priorities!
Rural Vermont has issued a survey to gather information from those who are also committed to the health of our soils, our people, and our communities. Please fill out the 15 minute survey to share your interests and concerns; and help Rural Vermont set its policy priorities for the next two years. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRI 10/26.
Read More USDA Releases Standard Indicators and Laboratory Procedures to Assess Soil Health for Public Comment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is releasing a set of standard indicators and associated laboratory procedures to assess soil health. These measures – recommended through a multi-organizational collaboration among soil health experts in the federal, university, public and private sectors – are being developed to improve conservation planning and implementation across the United States. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has posted a draft Technical Note detailing these soil health indicators and associated laboratory methods in the Federal Register for public review and comment. NRCS is accepting comments on this Technical Note through December 13, 2018.
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