Vermont currently has 6,800 farms and 1.2 million acres in agricultural production, with a farm-gate value of roughly $781 million dollars, and in 2017, Vermont’s food manufacturers generated $3 billion in economic value. These food and beverage businesses are essential to the cultural and economic fabric of our rural economy. Given the limited population of Vermont, many agricultural business owners rely on populations outside of Vermont to make purchases and sustain their business. Without the support of regional consumer markets, the growth and earning potential of Vermont farms and food businesses will be limited and this important sector will see stagnation or begin to shrink in size.
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