Cultivating Connections
January 2021
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ACORN Hires New Executive Director |
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ACORN's Board of Directors is excited to announce that Lindsey Berk has been hired as its new Executive Director. First hired in August 2015 as ACORN's Director of Marketing and Development, Lindsey has been dedicated to strengthening the Champlain Valley's local food system ever since.
Since last March's COVID-19 shutdown, Lindsey has been dedicated to moving the printed Guide online. Along with a small group of Middlebury College developers and designers, Lindsey is excited to launch the new Eat Local VT app which will officially go live to the public next week (ACORN readers can download the app now in the Apple app store and Google Play store - any and all feedback is welcomed).
Prior to working with ACORN, Lindsey and her husband, Matt, launched a small tourism business focused on the Origins of Food, and were program leaders for experiential education programs in Guatemala and Peru. Lindsey also spent seven years working in the corporate advertising and PR world in NYC and Washington, DC - an experience she is grateful to have, and to have left.
Lindsey would like to express her gratitude to ACORN's 2020-2021 community of donors and the following sponsors who continue to make ACORN's work possible during the pandemic:
Please email Lindsey if you'd like to collaborate on any local food and farming initiatives in the future!
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Join the Co-op's Board of Directors |
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Board Elections are held in May of each year. Interested member-owners must apply for candidacy before March 15th of each year. Applications will be made available before March 1st of each year. Still have questions? Please reach out to board@middleburycoop.com.
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Eat Local VT App - Beta Test Today! |
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ACORN’s new Eat Local VT App is a unique solution for our agricultural, rural, geographically dispersed area!
Now available for Beta Testing in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the app makes it easy for residents and visitors in Vermont’s Champlain Valley to find and connect with the nearly 250 farmers and food producers in our community.
Users can explore the map or use the search bar and filter options to find producers across product categories, services, and purchase options.
This app was developed in conjunction with Middlebury College’s MiddDev student club and ACORN. It is sponsored by Cooperative Insurance.
Farmers and Producers in the Champlain Valley: we'll be sending out the 2021 survey so you can update your listing within the next week. Please keep an eye out for the survey, or email Susan if you'd like to get in touch with us directly about your listing.
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ACORN Spotlight on: Abolition Kitchen |
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Abolition Kitchen, a project connected to Middlebury Showing Up for Racial Justice, has been cooking and delivering delicious meals to Black activists and community members every Friday since June 2020. We do this as a form of nourishment and Direct Reparations to our neighbors who deal with racism and white supremacy every day in the Green Mountain State.
We gratefully accept financial support in the form of gift cards to Hannaford or Middlebury Co-op, or through Venmo.
We are also always delighted to welcome new cooks!
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Congratulations to New Haven's V Smiley Preserves for winning yet another Good Food Award! This year's award is for her Black Velvet Gooseberry Summer Flowers Jam. You can find V Smiley Preserves at the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op in the cheese section or in her online store. January's featured flavor is Cherry Fennel Sherry Jam and 25% of its sales go to Black Votes Matter.
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The Vermont BIPOC Land Access and Opportunity Act
A coalition of BIPOC leaders will be introducing one of the first pieces of legislation to the Vermont State Legislature this upcoming biennium that explicitly addresses systemic racism and BIPOC land ownership - the Vermont BIPOC Land Access and Opportunity Act.
The bill intends to acknowledge and address systemic racism by creating new opportunities for individual and collective land ownership for Black, Indigenous and other People of Color in every town across the State of Vermont. Sign up to receive updates.
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Looking for creative ways to get out this winter? Over the summer Dig In VT launched Farm Walks Across Vermont, a network of trails on farms. They are currently putting together a winter version, featuring farms with ski and snowshoe trails.
Does your farm have trails open to the public in the winter? Or are you interested in visiting a farm? Visit DigInVT.com for more info.
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New definition of local food as of Jan. 1 Previously, the term “local” applied to food that originated in Vermont or within 30 miles of the point of sale. The new definition says that “local” and/or “Vermont” unprocessed (raw) fruits and vegetables must be exclusively grown in Vermont.
Processed foods, including fruits and vegetables, are “local” and/or “Vermont” food if: 1) The majority of ingredients (more than 50% by volume, excluding water) are raw agricultural products that are “local” to Vermont; and the product was either processed in Vermont or the food
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Farm to School Video Series
In response to COVID-19, Common Roots is in the process of filming eight 20-30 minute Farm to School educational videos for teachers to use across the northeast, pending funding. These lessons will engage youth in understanding their local food system and how it connects local farms and food producers. Check out their first two videos here and here.
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ACORN highlighted in Local Food Resiliency Website
"Communities all around Vermont are exploring how to build a more secure, accessible and resilient local food system." Check out this wonderful new website with profiles and maps that highlight inspiring projects to draw on for ideas as you think and plan around food, accessibility and justice where you are. ACORN's Farmacy program is one of many projects highlighted.
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Applications are open once again for the Vermont Family Farmer of the Month award. Each month, this fund makes a financial award of $10,000-12,000 to a Vermont family farmer for a project that will improve the viability of the farm. Awards recognize farmers whose businesses are contributing to a resilient Vermont agricultural landscape and demonstrate environmental stewardship and innovation. Applications are due February 28th for May, June, July, August, September, and October awards.
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Otter Creek Custom Meat Processing is now scheduling appointments for March - Fall. If you now have animals growing get them on the calendar now!!! Pork, beef, goats, lambs. Call for pricing/ appointment: Kirsten De la cruz, 802-349-7142, or Juan De la cruz, 802-349-5442.
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Have you heard about Middlebury's Giving Fridge? The Fridge is currently being stocked with delicious nutritious meals from American Flatbread Middlebury, The Arcadian, Sabai Sabai, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-Op, Park Squeeze & Braided Loaf Bakery! Reserve a free, local meal for you, your family or someone that you care about at www.careofVT.com, or donate dollars for meals - each $10 donation buys 1 meal using local ingredients made by one of our amazing local restaurants. OR, buy a house plant - each plant buys at least one meal for The Giving Fridge. You can purchase a plant on their website and pick it up Sundays & Mondays. The Giving Fridge will be open Sunday & Monday 2-4PM, 24 Merchants Row, Middlebury. *Masks and social distancing required for pick-up.
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Farmer Resources + Opportunities |
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The Be Well Farming project is pleased to announce a winter workshop series being held via Zoom for farmers or earth workers of all roles and backgrounds across the Northeast.
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Check out the RODALE INSTITUTE'S new virtual campus, with videos, case studies, resources and assessments, these courses will bring the regenerative organic movement directly to you, wherever you are in the world.
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If you run a farm or food business, don't forget to create a listing on the Vermont Farm to Plate Atlas to expand your reach across the state.
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FINAL SHOUT OUT
Looking for more local food news?
ACORN Board Member Annie Harlow writes a jam-packed monthly newsletter called Small Bites, which is packed full of Vermont food insights and information for grocers, farmers & food manufacturers, distributors and farm stands.
If you like what you've read here, please consider donating to ACORN! Investing in our local economy (perhaps with your stimulus check) is a great way to ensure our community bounces back from the pandemic!
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