The Northern Grain Growers Association (NGGA), UVM Extension, VHCB, and Vermont Farm to Plate did some initial research on grain infrastructure needs, which included a visit to a grain aggregation center in Quebec that does business with La Milanaise (a large organic grain mill/baked goods processor in Quebec). While the group came away feeling strongly that Vermont ultimately needs a similar infrastructure for grain production to thrive in Vermont, there was an acknowledgment that more needs to be understood about market conditions and demand for Vermont grain in the Northeast before moving ahead with a grain aggregation center feasibility analysis. As a result, the group settled on a two-phase approach. Representing phase 1, the below RFP encompasses the group's desire to more formally define the market opportunities for Vermont grown grains in the Northeast (markets of interest include grains for baked goods, spirits and beer, beans, and animal feed and cover cropping seed). Depending on the results and recommendations from this first phase of research, a second phase of analysis would then be supported to determine the feasibility of siting and profitably operating (including examining different ownership models) a grain aggregation center in Vermont.
