Vermont Fresh Network receives Conservation & Community grant to support Lake Champlain culinary trail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2019

Lake Champlain Tasting Trail tells the story of Vermont’s sustainable agricultural heritage

Vermont Fresh Network receives Conservation & Community Grant to support Lake Champlain culinary trail.

Richmond, VT.—The Vermont Fresh Network has been awarded a Conservation & Community Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP)  to tell the story of modern food production, sustainable agriculture, and agricultural heritage in the Lake Champlain basin through the development of educational and promotional resources for the Lake Champlain Tasting Trail.

The Lake Champlain Tasting Trail which includes 50 Vermont producers, restaurants, farms, farmers’ markets, breweries, cideries, and wineries along Lake Champlain - was developed in 2018 by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets;the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing; the Vermont Fresh Network; and University of Vermont Extension—as part of a broader effort among officials from Vermont, New York, Quebec, and Ontario to create a trail focused on authentic farm and food experiences, which would become the first culinary trail in the world to span an international border.

“We are excited to continue our work to support and to share the quality food and farm experiences of the Champlain Valley Basin through the stories of the Lake Champlain Tasting Trail. ” says Tara Pereira, Executive Director of the Vermont Fresh Network, which manages the DigInVT website, the online home of the Lake Champlain Tasting Trail.

CVNHP Grant funds will also go towards assessing and evaluating the needs of locations on the trail and will assist in continued efforts to support the culinary trail and strengthen partnerships. Managed by the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership works with partners in the eleven Vermont and New York counties surrounding Lake Champlain to conserve, interpret and promote the region’s natural and cultural treasures to build a sense of stewardship for those resources.

Visitors can plan their own personalized route along the Lake Champlain Tasting Trail by visiting DigInVt.com to see all participating farms, restaurants, and attractions. The culinary route includes locations in Franklin, Grand Isle, Chittenden, and Addison counties that meet certain criteria and standards for a robust visitor experience.  For more information on the Lake Champlain Tasting Trail, visit DigInVT.com. For businesses interested in learning more about participating, contact DigInVT at diginvt@vermontfresh.net.

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About Vermont Fresh Network

The Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, building a strong local food system through the connections between farmers, chefs, and consumers who value their contribution to healthy communities, environment, and local economies. Since 1996, we have worked to ensure that the farmer-chef connection is a strong part of agricultural development and that consumers can support this work by where they choose to dine. For more information on Vermont Fresh Network, visit www.vermontfresh.net/.

About the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets facilitates, supports and encourages the growth and viability of agriculture in Vermont while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers and the environment.

About the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing

The Department of Tourism and Marketing promotes Vermont’s travel, recreation, cultural and historic attractions, as well as the state’s goods and services, in coordination with public and private sector partners.  The department also works to market to a global audience in a manner consistent with the values and traditions of the state for the economic benefit of all Vermonters. Vermont’s tourism sector supports 32,000 local jobs and contributes $2.8 billion in economic activity each year. VermontVacation.com.

About the University of Vermont Extension

For more than 100 years, University of Vermont (UVM) Extension has delivered education tailored to local needs. Faculty and staff, located in 12 offices around the state, help improve the quality of life of Vermonters through research-based educational programs and practical information. UVM Extension integrates higher education, research and outreach to help individuals and communities put knowledge to work in their families and homes, farms, businesses, towns and the natural environment.

For more information:

Tara Pereira

Vermont Fresh Network

802-434-2000

802-999-6137 cell

tara@vermontfresh.net