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Small Bites
February 14, 2025
Creating opportunities to support & amplify regional food systems, not only in Vermont while responding to the economic coup dismantling of Federal services impacting food and economic security.
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has".- Margaret Mead | |
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Everything, everywhere, all at once. That is how things are feeling right now. There are a lot of moving parts in the food world crushed by recent federal decisions, with direct impacts yet to be revealed by farmers, food manufacturers, food stores, & above all, us all as "eaters". There are policy conflicts brewing that intersect ag & health.
Coming into view, our national social services network is on the chopping block. The intersectionality of health through federal programs addresses needs of underserved & marginal populations including SNAP, WIC & Medicaid. Per the Center for American Progress, low income families will likely be losing grocery benefits putting unnecessary stress on food access to critical support for families & individuals. One local organization Salvation Farms will be expanding its operational & infrastructure growth to meet society's increasing need. Plans are underway for a new production, processing & statewide facility in Morrisville.
On the farm side, organic standards are at risk as is the presumed proliferation of pesticides banned across the globe. Climate-Smart program funding has been destroyed thereby eliminating direct actions to mitigate environmental climate crisis. The allocated funding has been paused. In Iowa, a state that went 56.6% to Trump, soybean farmers are asking the USDA to resume payments. If they succeed, this is a move that will benefit all states.
In Vermont our Farm to Plate Network is a well-oiled machine of collaboration. Building strategic alliances for more than ten years, it has formed across dozens of sectors working together. Now is the time for the alliances to work even harder to maintain our values of caring for each other. Part of the network includes our federal representatives who are hearing from us on all the issues, as are state & local. (find your reps here in the national database).
On February 12th, Bernie is on the record challenging Musk for circumventing our established processes to reshape the government for his personal benefit. “Every American should be concerned the richest guy in the world is running all over this country acting, in a sense, illegally, unconstitutionally.”
For Businesses
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility has compiled, & will continually update a database with events & resources that includes information on DEI, ICE & Immigration and Tariffs to support businesses in navigating recent federal policy actions.
For Nonprofits
CommonGood Vermont has a Resource & Updates page to aid nonprofits in navigating recent federal policy changes.
Calling All Legislator Readers
We cover food production, delivery, sales, & global supply network variables to support viable regional food systems. Tell us what you are working on in your committees & share constituent pics, links, biz buzz, etc. In a world now fully crazy, let's share our good things! smallbites802 @ gmail .com
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Read on for topics of interest across the farm & food economy as we navigate the wave of systemic upheaval impacting all sectors.
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2025 The Year of Values
Since the change in the federal administration, we have seen many businesses re-evaluate their association with social media & online platforms.
The message has been to work on reimagining local community connections. A retooling away from Amazon for products or as sales outlets has also been part of the exploration away from overtly supporting the trump-musk-bezo-theil-zuckerburg-etc-alliance.
The re-visioning of local in this electronic age is not easy. We have become enmeshed in ways that run counter to other values. And yet, incremental actions matter. The Genny in Craftsbury & Albany have rescinded Facebook & are promoting their local events & products through a revamped email marketing plan & blog posts.
Their community is coming together with store supported events from cribbage to paint & sip, board games & mending evenings! How fun is this! Person to person, face to face with laughter & joy all around.
Sign up for The Genny e-news to see the engaging ways their stores help folks continue to be a community connector. A store is more than food. The Genny team lives values of personal interaction. With continuing ways to stem the tide of digital engagement they have comfortable spaces to shop & to engage with others.
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MKT Grafton
In the heart of Grafton, MKT serves its community & travelers. It is an old-fashioned general store with a modern feel, filled with organic, fresh-made food, friendly faces, great groceries & local gifts. Their place in the community reinforces their commitment that good food + good people = good business.
Catch owner June tell about her store in the VT Public story linked above & check out the Dig In Vermont page.
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Sharing Love
There are many kinds of love. We see that here in Vermont in our businesses & our caring & sharing networks of farm & food collaborations. In our activism. In our choices for representation.
Businesses make decisions to uphold values that entwine personally & professionally. Food manufacturers consider their food-sourcing relationships as well as distribution & "end user" customers for their products.
Pervasive across the Vermont food shed are tag lines & descriptions supporting values across the supply network. In the words of Pumpkin Village Foods: Make your money go far > keep it local. It will come back around.
Speaking of PVF, they are a true ally in the Vermont food network, reaching stores in NYC & the Boroughs. Picking up at loading docks, delivering ingredients to "makers & bakers" & delivering products to stores such as Rail City Market, Wood Meadow Market & The Farm Between is foundational to their success as a small independent distributor. It might sound corny, but many businesses sincerely operate from a place of love & care for the relationships engendered.
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Sweet Alchemy, are makers of DTC direct to consumer meals & DSD gluten free & vegan baked goods. They make value-aligned business decisions that amplify the multiplier effect bringing to life Margaret Mead's approach to change. Instrumental to their ethos is buying produce from local farms including The Farm Between. For ingredients they use PVF which delivers Rhapsody Tempe & Miso for their meals. Whether it is the incredible baked treats or their full meals to eat, Sweet Alchemy shares their love of food & love of relationships to stores, their distributors, & their customers.
Long-time supporter of local producers Healthy Living Market provided ample space & seasonally appropriate signage to support Valentine’s sales of Sweet Alchemy baked goods all while sharing some love.
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Calling Out Around the World
Are you ready for a brand new beat? Butterfly Bakery of Vermont & Fat Toad Farm want to follow more VT businesses on Bluesky. Share your handle with them & build the network. One of the goals is to begin to pull folks from Meta & lean into a variety of platforms not associated with Zuckerberg (FB, IG, What's App, Threads)
| When I think about what Momo’s is at its core, it’s all about connecting neighbors. You might run into someone you know from class or your kids’ teacher… people choose Momo’s because of a feeling.” | |
Retail Details
In 2024 Momo's Market an independent store in the heart of a Burlington, VT neighborhood, made changes in its purchasing strategy to better serve its customers, while allowing for more category management for profitability. They were featured in a promo from INFRA, the membership partner which helped them navigate their decision process.
Running small stores is always a bit of a juggling act. 2025 may see even more of this as chaos reigns across the global & local business climate. A small neighborhood market is one of the hardest retail food enterprises to sustain. We know historically that “knowing your customers matter”. This is true at Momo's as much as it is in rural areas.
The current federal issues of the day will have on-going impact on retail at all levels. The tightening up of product mixes, managing accounts payable with revenue will require due diligence. Each store will aim to streamline products to meet the need for lower price points which will be in huge demand.
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Go with the Flow
(Cashflow)
Jim Verzino loves to help grow healthy food businesses. He has seen it all when it comes to ventures growing sales for profitability. As a tax planning expert & business adviser with ample street cred in Vermont, he created Creators Financial to assist businesses as they navigate the various stages of growth or longevity.
It often comes down to "We're growing fast, but I feel like we are always broke". More customers, bigger orders, new distribution options, exciting partnerships & expanding staff. Why is every month touch & go with barely enough money to cover payroll?
A review of cash coming in & going out can help identify such things as paying vendors in 15 days but the business is not getting paid in 45. Add to this a review of access to financing, including use of short-term credit. A few adjustments can reduce cashflow stress & the accompanying personal stress.
Jim loves to find "The Fix"; it might be negotiating vendor terms from 15 to 30 days; incentivizing customers to pay early with small discounts; establishing short term credit line to cover gaps; creating a weekly cashflow management cycle.
"Cash flow isn't about how much you sell. It's about when the money moves"
Does your business (or non-profit) need a set of eyes on it as you address challenges? Jim’s wide range of services to support your business include accounting systems review & cleanup, forecasting, cashflow management, payroll, taxes (hello April 15th is coming up!)
As an adviser & mentor sharing his skills to support regional food sales, he is a long-time ally of the Vermont Farm to Plate Network.
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Local Movement in Canada
Uncertainty is the fall-out from the new administration. International trading will be impacted, as it already is with Canadians shifting their dollars away from USA products & services from a wide range of industries.
Just like in Vermont defining "local" is a challenge. Trying to get it right is hard. Currently, in response to the tariffs threat & of a USA takeover of Canada, shoppers are seeking non-US products & focusing on supporting Canadian producers. Watch this short clip about Quebec response to tariffs, or this one on craft beer & economic uncertainty.
At grocery stores, having accurate signage is important for customers, & tracking sales data requires products to be attributed based on criteria. (See VT Local Food Counts & NEFNE food count reports).
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Because of the tariffs, supplies & equipment costs will be impacted, though outcomes are yet to be determined. Products we take for granted have multi-faceted, multi-tiered supply networks that operate much like the entwining of medieval chain mail. Aluminum is an infinitely recyclable material that requires enormous energy to manufacture. Canada is the fourth largest producer & does so with the smallest carbon footprint due to the electricity coming from hydro power & improved technologies.
Aluminum cans are produced in the US in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio by companies headquartered in the US & Luxemburg. Want to know more about aluminum & cans supply networks, Check this out
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The United States was Canada's largest export destination for aluminum products in 2022, accounting for 92% of the total value of aluminum exports.
New England beverage prices will be impacted, including emerging brands.
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Per the WAPO:
The CEO of Coca Cola is considering switching from aluminum to PET plastic bottles to offset the 25% tariffs & remain in the "affordability space".
The plastification of our oceans & the use of fossil fuels will continue as the American way along with increasing microplastics lodging in our bodies. Coke "accounted for 11 % of branded plastic pollution & is one of the world’s largest contributors. In December 2024, the company abandoned its plastic reduction & reuse goals." as part of a climate goal.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/12/coca-cola-plastic-bottles-aluminum-tariffs/
| Sage Farm Goat Dairy Snowball Cheese~ Perfect for February days | |
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This Is So Cool
( I Mean Hot!)
Butterfly Bakery of Vermont (BBVT) may be a bakery at its roots but is best known for its farm-to-fork hot sauces. Their fame is linked to the You Tube sensation, Hot Ones.
For Season 2026, BBVT has spot #7. They will feature “Hot House Hot Sauce”, an extreme five-chili pepper blend as well as tomatoes, cilantro & dill – all sourced from small farms within 200 miles of their Barre, VT kitchen.
Now in its 10th year, the blockbuster celebrity interview show is where host Sean Evans asks deeply researched questions while he & the guest eat progressively spicier chicken wings. Each season the show chooses 6 new craft hot sauces from thousands of entries & 3 times now, one of those sauces has been from BBVT.
“We really love developing new sauces for Hot Ones & it’s so much fun to see the celebrity reactions each week,” says founder & CEO, Claire Georges. “Hot House is a delightfully complex, but surprisingly versatile sauce. Because we developed it for Hot Ones, it’s a bit hotter than our regular line up, but nothing like our last Hot Ones sauce, Taco Vibes Only.”
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2025 Store Support Services & The VT Grocers Project
We know it's going to get dicey this year. The Grocers project will continue to flex & adapt to the sudden changes across the Farm to Plate Network, supporting our stores & aligned businesses.
Looking ahead, we will host online, Farmers as Retailers as periodic one-offs with dedicated topics. Stores will be able to sign up for intermittent peer-based sessions of our newly hatched Shop Talk. This short series will tackle issues pertaining to inde stores & smaller coops addressing topical issues associated with rural demographics. Details & sign-ups will follow in future Bites.
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In-store services are offered utilizing a team of consultants to address specific concerns for stores: Reach out if you are interested
Feel free to drop an email to smallbites802 @ gmail.com to ensure you receive info for either series, Farmers as Retailers or Shop Talk for stores.
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MiniVersity Where
Margins Matter
"Managing & Calculating Margins through a Specialty Supply Chain," taught by Zoe Brickley of Jasper Hill Farm. Her style & knowledge are spot on.
Hosted by the VT Cheese Council, it is not just for cheesemakers, but for farmers, food producers of all stripes, retailers, & anyone interested in educational content about fundamental business skills.
The 2025 Business Miniversity series includes nine weekly 90-minute sessions hitting on leadership, management, finances & margins, strategy, marketing, & more! Last years’ participants raved about the wide range of info shared.
Sessions are scheduled on Wednesdays from 12:00-1:30pm ET from March 5 to April 30; all are virtual & recorded for later watching (for a limited time). Registration is $100 for the entire series. VSFA members can receive a $10 discount using the promo code "vsfamember" at registration. Visit vtcheese.com/bmini for the complete session listing & to register.
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Partnerships Matter
in This Fragile Time
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility:
From tariffs & the prospect of ICE raids, to the potential loss of information security, government contracts, basic human services, & federal funding for LGBTQ+ rights, environmental protection, DEI, & refugee support, recent federal policy actions have created a climate of fear, anxiety, & uncertainty.
VBSR acknowledges the tremendous impact these actions are already having on Vermont's businesses, communities, & economy.
We also recognize the importance of clear information & calculated responses to diffuse the chaos & minimize the disruption to our lives and livelihoods. Keep abreast & join VBSR
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Fear & Loathing:
Economic Multiplier Effect
“By not calling it a coup, the mainstream media is failing to communicate the gravity of what is occurring.” Robert Reich
Some economists are predicting a 2026 collapse with long lasting geopolitical global implications. Keeping dollars local & being financially cautious is going to be even more important than ever. In only 25 days, chaos has reigned for businesses that are trained to look ahead, forecast expenses, cashflow, etc. Cash management is imperative with tough decisions to be made as many inputs will be volatile: think back to 2021 supply network issues.
With mass "layoffs" at the government level & for workers across many industries where funds have been paused or eliminated, we will have the Reagan "trickle down effect" in reverse. Money will not be spent & businesses across the board will be damaged. Massive boycotts of US made products in Canada are just a start. The treatment of our close allies & neighbors is being watched. Many Vermont companies working with Canadian vendors or as buyers, are navigating the daily uncertainty.
The "tariff situation" will no doubt have the "multiplier effect" as governments around the globe decide to develop trade relations outside the US. This newly envisioned nationalism is predicted to cause both a recession, & a future depression, an economic term that is also a mental health term. The courts are being used by federal legislators, non-profits, trade groups & businesses to address the rampant & ongoing takedown of government services & agencies that are integral to the functioning of our country. However, the administration is threatening to not abide by & actually ignore the role of the judiciary, thereby admitting this is a economic coup.
What lies ahead is the unknown influence on global trade; this will absolutely impact ingredients & product supply sourcing across our interconnected industries. With the safeguards being removed across all sectors, it is no wonder we in the farm, food, & social services space are nervous.
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Looking Ahead: Future Generations
Across the country local food advocates were hit hard by the freezing of appropriated funds with the signature in an executive order.
USDA Regional Food System Infrastructure grants are frozen by an executive order on January 28, 2025. Under Biden, funding was made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan Act & dispersed through block grants to every state as the Regional Food System Infrastructure grant program.
The loss of the funds will have the (negative) multiplier effect for our farmers all the way through retail, as infrastructure is a key to expanding economic vitality. Each state took advantage of the grants to reinvigorate the growth of rural economies in response to both the 2020 pandemic & to mitigate challenges brought on by corporate consolidation across the supply network.
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Closer to Home
Partnerships & relationships still matter. Our food hubs play a critical role in helping businesses sell to stores that might otherwise be hard to access due to geographical reasons.
Each hub is unique in its operation, yet each has made great in roads to matching products with buyers. For example, Sherpa Foods has been steadily growing their sales, SKU product lines, & distribution options over their ten years in operation.
They have recently launched new frozen product packaging. This project was one & a half years in the making. Selling first to City Market's both Burlington locations in January, they are now partnering with Food Connects & Lesser Distribution. Incrementally adjusting their production to meet their expansion goals, they aim for wider future New England sales with regional distributors.
Growing our food enterprises, many businesses rely on technical advisers & direct grants for operational efficiency. The current USDA & service provider cuts to funding will have significant impact on farmers & service agencies, including our very supportive VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets. Small Business Administration cuts will also have an impact on all sectors that intersect with our farm & food economy- which is vast.
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Regional NE Partnerships
Supporting Each Other
Maine Food Convergence is jamming on building its alliances with ongoing programs to support the local & regional farm & food economy. Much like our Farm to Plate Network, it creates spaces where people working on food, land, & climate issues explore collaborative solutions to complex problems.
Working to grow community & deepen relationships for collective action they welcome others join them on May 29th in Jefferson, Maine.
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Farm to Plate has studied the impact of our food & Ag enterprises. In the recent e-news there are great statistics. Farm to Plate loves to share data
- 15 farm and food businesses received technical assistance through the USDA Resilient Food System Infrastructure program.
- 7 farms received training on breeding, marketing, & financial planning for the Beef on Dairy Project.
- 75 farm and food businesses received distribution & retail sales technical assistance through the Network’s Independent Grocers Program.
- 1,000+ subscribers to the bi-monthly Small Bites e-newsletter, addressing producer, vendor, & buyer interests in support of local food sales—a 65% open rate & consistent positive feedback from readership.
- $20,000 secured for the Network’s CSA & Healthcare Community of Practice’s to aid the development of Food Is Medicine initiatives
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We are facilitating 5 food hubs to identify middle of the supply chain investment needs for both supply and distribution, improve strategic planning and operational efficiencies between food hubs, distributors, & producers, & surface market research or shared logistics technology needs
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Business Support Services
VSJF offers business management coaching, entrepreneurial support, & training to position Vermont entrepreneurs for growth & long-term success. Explore the possibilities!
Farm to Plate's events/news/jobs page is a go-to list to connect & learn. Check it out regularly & share your good stuff too! Ooddles of updates that can include agroforestry, women farmer summits, butchering seminars, staffing news, & so much more.
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Special Thanks: Seth @ Pumpkin Village, Bhara @ Sweet Alchemy, Jim@ Creators Financial, Emily @ The Genny, James @ Columinate, Peter @ Mclure Packaging Systems, Michele Klieger @ Helianth Partners, Leah @ NE Food Systems Partners, our Federal Representatives, Vern @ UVM Extension
Created with gratitude for the support from the Canaday Family Charitable Trust
Small Bites comes to you via incredibly valuable grants.
We directly support the New England State Food System Planners Partnership effort to strengthen the regional food economy.
Contact: Annie Harlow
smallbites802@gmail.com
All info is subject to change. One small bite at a time.
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