We're thrilled to welcome new customers Blueberry Hill Inn, Lincoln Peak Vineyard and Whiting General Store to the market this month. Support these businesses who are supporting our local farms! 💜

AND we welcome new-to-the-market producers Naga Bakehouse, Sherpa Foods and Pigasus Meats while also welcoming back veggie growers such as Head Over Fields and Evening Song Farm. Spring has officially sprung - get ready to stock up on greens of all kinds! 🌱

New products on the market! The market is open every Friday at noon through Monday at 10am.

ACORN impacted by federal funding freeze

Donate to our Spring Appeal

Photo: Jim Mendell

On March 7, 2025, the Agency of Ag received termination notices for two cooperative agreements from the USDA for the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs. ACORN's programming is affected by these program cuts, as this funding supported the purchasing of local food from area farms for our K-12 schools via the Vermont Food Hub Network. $1.2 million of local food around the state was would have been purchased through Vermont's food hubs with LFS funds. The LFPA funding may have helped purchase more Farmacy CSA shares.

If you didn't catch the article in the Addy Indy a few weeks ago, we have it here. You can read more about the cuts from the Agency of Ag here. Our small but mighty team will also be affected by the most recent news of upcoming AmeriCorps cancellations.

What are we doing?

In addition to contacting federal representatives, we are partnering with other organizations to loudly state our opposition to these policy decisions. We supported NOFA-VT's rally at the USDA office earlier this month, and continue to support the fight against the loss of civil rights for our immigrant neighbors. Angelo Lynn's editorial in last week's Addy Indy paints the picture well. Despite the uncertainty, we are focused on our perennial work, making it easier for people to access local food, piecing together the logistical puzzle of how to get food from small farms into more stores, institutions, restaurants and homes.

What can you do?

To ensure we can continue this important work of localizing our food system and striving for fresh, healthy food for all, we're launching a spring fundraising drive to help offset the loss of this funding. A strong, local, community-owned foodshed is more important than ever, and we need your help. We are currently fundraising to fill a $30,000 gap in funding for our upcoming Farmacy season. Please consider making a donation to ACORN, and of course, continue to buy as much local food as possible! We are literally all in this together. 🙌

Spring Working Bees - What a Buzz!

Last Chance to Dig In This Weekend!

We have so much appreciation for everyone who has shown up, rain or shine (mostly rain!), at our working bees this season. We've weeded volunteer/ introduced/ invasive species in the forest and greenhouses, prepped high tunnels for transplants, and planted trees for future silvipasture. And, we've broken bread with new and old friends, something we're feeling called to do more and more these days.

You have one more chance to roll up your sleeves and join our last working bee for the season at Frog Hollow Farmstead in Hubbardton. We'll be planting trees on this picturesque farm set in the rolling hills of the northern Taconics, and chef-farmer Janis will fill your belly afterwards with a delicious farm fresh meal. Sign up here, just a few spots remain!

Congratulations to these NOFA-VT 2025 Resilience Grantees!

• Abolition in Action Farms, Shoreham
• Dig Dig Farm, Hinesburg
• Green & Gold CSA, Sudbury
• Lower Notch Farm, Bristol
• Stone’s Throw Farmstead, Shrewsbury

We're pretty fortunate to have such rock-star farms in our slice of the state. Learn more about the grantees here.

News for Farmers + Food Producers

• New! Therapy for Farmers with Cory Froning from The Farm Upstream. Cory takes Cigna, BCBS, Green Mountain Care insurance, and sliding scale self-pay. Email Cory: cory@aspectcounseling.group
• New Farmers Market!  The Farmers Market Association of Addison County market will be held every Wednesday between 1:30-6:00pm from June - October. Vendors must primarily sell items that they, or their family and/or employees grow, raise, make or bake. For more info: Ross Conrad 802-349-4279 or Dancingbhoney@gmail.com
• Reminder! Vermont Family Farmer of the Month Award Application Deadline is 5/19.
• Increasingly important! Get familiar with your rights.

Throughout the Year, Buy Local

ACORN's Online Market is about to pop with spring roots and shoots!

• April 30: Rutland Input Session on Vermont's Climate Action Plan
• May 1: Join the Migrant Justice Picket at the Hannaford in Williston to support their Milk with Dignity campaign, 7am-11pm. ACORN will be there 7am-9am!
• May 1: Rutland Region Farm to School Gathering, 4-6pm 
• May 3: Green Up and Garden Celebration at Mary Hogan Elementary (see image at right)
• May 5: "How Are People in Addison County Promoting Food Justice & Sovereignty?" panel includes ACORN. 11:30am - 12:15pm. Zoom in here.
• May 28: 3rd Annual FEAST Summit! is still looking for youth leaders
• May 31: Pollinator Celebration Day with Vermont Pollinator Working Group, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and Vermont Bee Lab
• July 7-10 and August 11-14: Sentinel Farms Youth Camp
• July 29 - August 2: Addison County Fair and Field Days
• September 20: ACORN's Tour de Farms!

We are increasingly grateful to be in community with you.

Cheers to planting seeds for a better future,

Lindsey, Jess, Abby, Alicia, Alyssa and the ACORN Board

FINAL SHOUT OUT

The 15th Annual Local Food and Farm Guide publishes THIS WEEK! Find it inside The Addison Independent and in shops around the region.

info@acornvt.org / www.acornvt.org