Vermont Food System News

MAY 2017

Vermont's Farm to Plate food system plan (2011-2020) is being implemented statewide by the 350+ member organizations of the Farm to Plate Network to increase economic development and jobs in the farm and food sector and improve access to healthy local food for all Vermonters.

One of the strategic priorities being addressed over the next several years is to:

Increase Consumer Engagement and Demand for Local Food

When consumers demand more Vermont food products, it sends a powerful market signal to producers, distributors, and retailers to provide more local food. The Farm to Plate Consumer Education & Marketing Working Group is focused on efforts to improve the ability of Vermonters to find, purchase, and use local foods and ensure these efforts reach Vermonters at all income levels.

Consumer demand research conducted by the Farm to Plate Consumer Education & Marketing Working Group found that many Vermonters want local food to be more connected to Vermont traditions and communities. After all, Vermonters were farming, gardening, fishing, and hunting long before there were craft beers and gourmet burgers.

By celebrating all Vermonters' relationships with local food, Rooted in Vermont intends to create a grassroots movement that connects tradition, pride, community, trust, and equity to local food. Rooted in Vermont aims to help all Vermonters see local food as their own - not because it is a trend, but rather a part of our history and who we are as Vermonters.

When Vermont consumers not already committed to buying local food begin to get more engaged in the Rooted in Vermont movement, education and marketing efforts will encourage Vermonters to demonstrate increased demand. At the same time, as more local food becomes available and affordable in all market channels (retail, restaurants, institutions, direct sale), purchases will increase in the Vermont local food economy. Purchasing local products keeps more money here in Vermont, in turn creating jobs, supporting the in-state supply chain, protecting our family farms, and making local food more accessible to more Vermonters.

Rooted in Vermont empowers all Vermonters to be a part of the local food movement. Now the Consumer Education & Marketing Working Group and the Rooted in Vermont Task Force are trying to empower Vermont nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies to get involved in the Rooted in Vermont movement to help build the momentum to increase consumer demand of local food.

Click here to learn how to help Rooted in Vermont go viral and get involved in the movement!

Expanding Agritourism

Get Rooted in Vermont this year during Open Farm Week! Organized by the Farm to Plate Agritourism Task Force, the 3rd annual Open Farm Week will take place August 14 - 20, 2017. Farmers throughout the state open their doors for special events on the farm with all details hosted at DiginVT.com. Farms can sign up for Open Farm Week now through June 30th. The Agritourism Task Force is offering technical assistance to farms either new to agritourism or who are looking to hone their craft. To be eligible, farms must sign up by May 14th.

Any Vermont farmers who currently participate in agritoruism or those interested in learning more, as well as service providers and nonprofits who support agritourism, are invited to join the Agritourism Task Force. Quarterly meetings are held throughout the state and this year a series of opportunities for farmers to learn and share best practices in education and safety are being planned.

Food System Communications & Marketing Best Practices

The new Communications and Marketing Community of Practice was created this year to help support and amplify the good work taking place throughout Vermont's food system. The Community of Practice will provide communications, outreach, and marketing professional development and networking opportunities to foster collaboration and more effective promotion of Vermont food products, brands, and programs. In the coming months, a series of communications and marketing professional development webinars will be explored.

In April, the group launched a Vermont Food System Communicators & Marketers Facebook Group to share best practices and ask for advice in food systems communications and marketing. This group is open to anyone working in food system communications and marketing (staff at nonprofits, businesses, or government; marketing business owners, staff and consultants; and food writers in Vermont) and interested communicators or marketers can join here.