Small Bites October 7, 2021
October 11 marks the 3rd year Vermont has celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day replacing Columbus Day.
|
|
Apples are abundant & ready for pies & turnovers. Across VT it is apples, pies & cider season! |
A Few Retail Tips
In the higher elevations, it is peak season of Vermont’s finest colors. This of course means the leaf peepers are returning. It's not too late to squeeze in last minute product placement for enhanced sales.
Here are a few ideas:
Mix local with national brands rather than separating them in an isolated, stand alone area.
Create easy grab & go maple travel sizes to comply with carry-on limits of TSA 3.4 or 100 milliliters; also promote larger sizes for checked baggage
Use maple prominently in your food preparation: roasted delicata squash with maple glaze as done by the Jericho Mkt
Place signage on VT Bevies: folks like to savor the flavors when they tour new areas. Help travelers to find your local drinks!
And one last tip: it is very much apple season, keep that in mind with your produce displays & inpre-made meal choices.
|
Main Street Market in Richford includes VT products in its October baking end cap promotion
featuring local Maple, honey & King Arthur Baking Company. This helps
promote their expanding line of Vermont products under their new management.
|
Shifting With the Season
Happy times abound at the Naga Bakehouse a wood fired bakery in Middletown Springs with construction of a new milling facility. They will expand their purchases of locally grown grains & increase their retail product mix. If your purchasing values are to increase the multiplier effect & local support, contact the Naga team to see how to get their products into your store for 2022. They will be offering an expanded line of local, organic regenerative products for home bakers. Stay tuned for updates on this fantastic expansion!
Though we haven't had many chilly nights, it is time to really nudge VT baking products. For some that means King Arthur Baking Company's full line of products. Each distributor carries products targeted to their distinct customer base. Available through Associated Grocers & VT Roots. Or you may want to explore 3P platforms like Mable for VT products to create cross category promotional displays. These are shipped direct to stores from the vendor.
Please Note: Flour is challenging for many food manufacturers to obtain. We may find supply gaps in the next few months as baking season kicks into high gear & demand increases for professional & home bakers.
|
In Case You Missed this....
Eliminating child labor in the global supply chain is the primary focus of the Dutch chocolate-bar company Tony's Chocolonely. Their goal is eliminating ALL illegal child labor in chocolate through a lean supply chain & full traceability for every production lot number. By sourcing from transparent supply chains, our local chocolatiers can help drive positive change to extinguish exploitation.
|
Product Highlights
Maple is a big seller this time of year with an influx of travelers. Woodstock Farmers Market on the Stowe Road in Waterbury & on Rt 4 In Woodstock promotes ALL sizes of maple syrup for bumping up fall sales.
True North Granola has rolled out their seasonal Pumpkin Granola & is available only through Oct 31. Grab it while you can! Familiar & comforting fall flavors- think PSL (Pumpkin Spice Lattte) in a bowl! Available to stores through 3P provider Mable.
Vermont Fresh Pasta is literally rolling out their seasonal ravioli filled with fall flavors. Bump up your fall sales with an easy Pumpkin Ricotta Ravioli dinner promotion. They are streamlining their fall production with a focus on in-season specialties in both retail & food service pack sizes. Contact Trish to build your relationship & get up to date info on shipping that will round out your store inventory with seasonal delights.
|
Goodwill, Good Deeds
"Friends, family, dear ones, and to all those who loved Jon...your donations to The Jon Satz Memorial Fund are truly such a remarkable part of his life story. There is no way to thank you enough for being a part of this fund, and helping our 'extended' family in such a meaningful way."
This fundraiser has closed reaching a total of $30,355 for The Woods Market Garden H2A family. Small Bites sends out gratitude to those who donated through our links.
|
|
Big Picture: Big Impact
In the past several days, food manufacturers & stores in Vermont received letters that distribution costs are increasing through Performance Food Group (PFG) doing business in Vermont as Black River Produce. Shipping fees (BOL) for pallets & cases are increasing significantly. Minimum orders for products picked up has increased too.
This is a significant change & impact for many food manufacturers shipping to stores, restaurants, caterers & institutions within the state & the entire NE region. All costs across the full supply chain (global to local) are up. For small manufacturers with direct relationships to their store buyers, these shipping price increases are significant.
(Another recent change further consolidation with PFG's recent purchase of Core Mark, a distribution company focused mostly on convenience stores in VT.)
Fortunately, there is the potential to offset some of this impact. Upper Valley Produce has a freight service which is determined on a "case by case" basis. Like all distributors they seek route efficiency, especially in these times of increased labor & fuel costs. With many routes crisscrossing the state they may be able to assist in delivery. Contact them to review your needs & their capacity. As a locally owned business they have a commitment to building relationships to get VT products to market.
Another means for buyers to gain access to VT products is through the Vermont Food Hub Collaborative. Like with UVP, shipping decisions & costs are part of the larger trucking route formula at each food hub location.
It is important to know that costs are going up across the board & economists are stressing that the uncertainty has no clear end is in sight. Globally, instability will be part of the labor, manufacturing, & shipping which will continue to limit consumer choices across all categories, not only food.
|
Drew Hennemuth of Upper Valley Produce leads his team in exemplary customer service during challenging times. He knows relationships matter with his customers & supports the entire staff during these difficult & stressful times.
|
In these weird uncertain times, relationships still matter. Buyers & sellers are commiserating & supporting each other through the challenges of keeping food rolling.
VT Fresh Pasta calls their retail, institutional & restaurant customers weekly & literally make EVERY ravioli & tortellini to order. This matters to all parties. When gaps in ingredients are a weekly "new normal" these conversations between buyer & food manufacturer help in a multitude of rippling waves.
Upper Valley Produce also values the conversations & one-on-one engagement with their customers. Providing their perspective & information on national distribution variables helps their store buyers in their daily decision making. They buy from Vermont & regional growers, but we all know produce sourced from California, Arizona, & Florida make up a significant portion of sales. Their retail team, led by Drew, helps store buyers navigate all the challenges. The personal conversations help build comradery & trust as product decisions will continue to be challenging. UVP not only ships inventoried products to stores but is a key shipper of “freight” moving BOL products from our food manufacturer to stores. The UVP staff is also keeping supportive conversations going within the company. We all know it is stressful & the team is getting the hard work done, stronger together.
|
Report on The True Cost of Food
"In 2019, American consumers spent an estimated $1.1 trillion on food. That price tag includes the cost of producing, processing, retailing, & wholesaling the food we buy & eat. It does not include the cost of healthcare for the millions who fall ill with diet-related diseases. Nor does $1.1 trillion include the present & future costs of the food system’s contributions to water & air pollution, reduced biodiversity, or greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change.
Americans pay that cost even if consumers don’t see it at check-out. What’s more, these hidden costs disproportionately burden communities of color, who face higher rates of diet-related diseases, have reduced access to water & sanitation, & often lack livable wages as producers & workers in the food system." Read more from the Rockefeller Foundation Report
|
Produce Farmers Take Note!
The VAAFM Produce Program is providing farms with new containers & cleaning supplies to improve food safety & efficiency. Forty approved applicants will receive a complete Produce Safety Supply Kit, including a bucket, brush, squeegee, & a custom number of crates &/or attached lid containers based on their request & supply. Vermont farms that grow, harvest, pack, or hold fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, or nuts, & are enrolled in the Vermont Produce Portal, are eligible. Farms of all sizes are encouraged to apply. Farms with over $28,561 in average annual produce sales over the past three years will be prioritized.
|
Reminder! Farmers & retailers can utilize promotional materials from VT Harvest of the Month. Review the 2022 calendar & resources for your promos & make it ways on yourself & use their recipes for your prepared foods.
|
Know Our "Local" Definition in Your Promotions
When promoting local foods, be aware of the Vermont definition as enacted by ACT 129. Check out the fact sheet so that your purchasing values-based strategies & promotions comply.
|
|
The results are in MNFC is thrilled to share the great news that sales of local products in September exceeded all past promotions! They paid a staggering $561,828.60 to local farmers & producers in their annual local food challenge. Congratulations are definitely in order! The Middlebury Coop is a store with a well articulated purchasing structure that their shoppers & members rely on to help support VT producers.
|
|
West River Provisions, the former Jamaica General Store, changed ownership earlier this year. They are learning that fall donuts are a fan-favorite! They have available Skinny Goose apple cider local donuts every Friday through the fall season. When heading south to capture later peak foliage, stop in & say hello to the crew! Tell them Small Bites sent you.
|
|
Through support from a USDA grant, content is created for farmers,
food manufacturers, distributors, grocers, & anyone else
interested in how food moves
Contact: Annie H Harlow
smallbites802@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, photo credits are from company social media, websites or Annie Harlow Vaccinated : image by Stanley Mouse
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
