Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is excited to announce the selection of Sherpa Foods LLC, of Burlington as the first food processing establishment in Vermont to participate in the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Program, allowing them to locally process and ship its products outside of Vermont. The 2008 Farm Bill created the CIS program, an agreement between USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and participating state meat inspection programs, to allow selected state-inspected meat and poultry processors to ship their products across state lines without a federal grant of inspection.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today is holding a hearing titled, The Income and Wealth Inequality Crisis in America. "Today, we are going to discuss an issue that is of enormous consequence to our country, but gets far too little discussion. And that is the crisis of income and wealth inequality in America. The simple truth that in America today the very rich have become much richer while tens of millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table and live in dignity."

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) on Wednesday introduced the Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act to take on corporate greed by raising taxes on companies that pay their top executives at least 50 times more than the pay of a median worker. Americans across the political spectrum are outraged by the extreme gaps between CEO and worker pay. According to a nationwide survey, the typical American would limit CEO pay to no more than 6 times that of the average worker. About 62% of all Americans – 52% of Republicans and 66% of Democrats – favor capping CEO pay relative to worker pay.

$285 million less than it acquired it for in 2012

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine C&C Group, based in Dublin, Ireland, announced Tuesday that is selling Middlebury-based Vermont Hard Cider Co for $20 million, or $285 million less than it bought it for in 2012, to Northeast Drinks Group. The cidery is famous for its Woodchuck brand, founded in 1991.

Vermont Business Magazine There is officially a new hop in town. Lawson’s Finest Liquids has turned to Cashmere hops for the latest release in its longtime Super Session single-hop IPA series, introducing Super Session #5 to its full distribution area this week. The Cashmere-hopped IPA, which is completely new to the market, will be available through the end of May in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Healthy Living Market and Café is named one of the " 2021 Remarkable Independents" by grocery industry trade publication Winsight Grocery Business. Healthy Living is one of 13 retailers across the US to be selected.

Vermont Business Magazine As vaccine supply continues to grow, Governor Scott said today that he expects to share the full remaining vaccination eligibility schedule for Vermonters on Friday. He also said he expects Vermont to be back to a "pre-pandemic normal" by the Fourth of July. But he also said that there would continue to be health guidance regarding mask wearing and other mitigation measures going forward after that because "the virus will still be with us." State officials also continue to urge people to get vaccinated when their time comes to ensure that the state can continue to open up and meet that summer-time goal.

Vermont Business Magazine Speaker Jill Krowinski today presented an $84 million proposal to invest in higher education, scholarship programs, workforce development initiatives. The University of Vermont, the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, the Vermont State Colleges and Primary Care Physician and Nursing Scholarship Programs would be the recipient organizations

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan submitted comments yesterday expressing his concerns about US Customs and Border Protection’s recent proposal to place Remote Video Surveillance Systems towers in Vermont towns, including Derby, Franklin, Richford, and Troy. While recognizing the importance of border monitoring for legitimate law enforcement reasons—to protect citizens from known terrorist threats or other illegal activities that may otherwise threaten the health and safety of Vermonters—Donovan is concerned about unwarranted surveillance or potential interference with the privacy interests of Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking Vermonters to report when lakes and ponds lose their ice cover, also known as the “ice-out date.” Once a lake or pond is completely free of ice from shore to shore, DEC scientists can begin their spring water quality sampling efforts. The ice-out data also helps scientists track the effects of climate change in Vermont.

by Don Tinney As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermonters have reason to be proud of their commitment and sacrifices in mitigating the virus, keeping our infection rate one of the lowest in the world. The low community spread of the virus, combined with the extraordinary efforts and flexibility of Vermont educators, allowed our schools to remain open for in-person instruction since September.

Political leaders across the nation—including President Biden and Governor Scott—have called for students to return to school full-time. Since last March, efforts have been focused on the logistics of mitigating the virus and protecting everyone’s physical health. Attention is now being focused on the social and emotional wellbeing of our students, emphasizing mental health alongside physical health.

Vermont Business Magazine White River Junction VA Healthcare System has begun offering COVID-19 vaccinations to Veterans of all ages who are enrolled in VA healthcare. With the greater and more consistent availability of Vaccine, White River Junction VA Healthcare System is now able to schedule enrolled Veterans of all ages to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are a Veteran who would like to schedule an appointment to receive your COVID-19 vaccine through the White River Junction VA you can call 802-296-5151.