The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Convention Bureau, and GBIC announced Monday that they will host the Eighth Annual Taste of Vermont Reception in Washington, DC, with honored guest Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Thursday, May 16, 2013.
More than 50 Vermont businesses will be represented at the reception, and many are traveling to Washington for this special event. Representatives of Vermont’s premier hotels, resorts and attractions, and more than 40 Vermont food and beverage makers will have the opportunity to meet with food buyers, writers, meeting planners and others ‘in an effort to bring more business to Vermont.
The Taste of Vermont Reception will be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. This special event is by invitation only, and the guest list will include U.S. Senators and Representatives; Federal government officials; Vermont government officials; Vermont Convention Bureau members; Washington-based specialty food buyers; travel and food reporters; and meeting planners.
‘This event is a great opportunity for Vermont businesses and for the state as a whole,’said Michelle Herman, chair of the Vermont Convention Bureau’s Board of Directors. ‘By showcasing a wide variety of what Vermont has to offer, we can get people excited about holding meetings here or buying Vermont-made products.’
‘Our little state produces a big variety of first-rate, top-quality products,’said Leahy. ‘The Taste of Vermont is the perfect crossroads for businesses all over the state to showcase our diverse and unique economy in our nation’s capital. We never miss an opportunity to share Vermont’s exceptional story, and the great part about this event is that tasting is believing.’
The Taste of Vermont Reception will showcase the diversity of Vermont food and beverage products. Everything from coffee, snacks, microbrew beers, handcrafted chocolate, and artisan cheese to ice cream, meats, and, of course, pure Vermont maple syrup will be represented at the event, truly giving attendees a real ‘Taste of Vermont.’
Many national associations have headquarters in Washington, which makes the location especially beneficial to the representatives of Vermont’s hotels and resorts attending this special event. Vermont premier hotels, resorts and attractions will network with meeting planners ‘who will learn more about why Vermont is such a popular four-season meeting destination. The effect of meetings and conventions on the state’s economy is profound, having a positive economic impact on attractions, transportation, gifts, restaurants and other area businesses.
Taste of Vermont: Food Vendors, Beverages and Hotel/Resorts
Bold = sending representative
Food:
Against the Grain
Bakery at Farmhouse Kitchen
Ben & Jerry's
Bien Fait Specialty Cakes
Black River Produce
Bove's
Cabot Cheese
Castleton Crackers
Champlain Orchards
Comfort Cookies
Dakin Farm Beverages:
Deanos Jalapenos Caledonia Spirits
Distler’s Spicy Pretzels Eden Ice Cider
Drew’s (new) Green Mountain Coffee
Goodman’s American Pie Green Mtn Distillers/vodka
Grand Isle Pasta The Alchemist
Gringo Jack’s Harpoon
Jan's Farmhouse Crisps Lawson’s Finest Liquids
King Arthur Long Trail Brewing
Lake Champlain Chocolates Otter Creek
Laughing Moon Chocolates Shed Ale
Maplebrook Farm Shelburne Vineyard
Misty Knoll Chicken Trapps
Newport Renaissance WhistlePig Rye
Olivia's Croutons
Pete's Greens
Red Fox Apple Pies
Screaming Ridge Farm Resorts:
Sunrise Orchards Jay Peak
Vermont Bean Crafters Sheraton
Vermont Butter & Cheese Stoweflake
Vermont Cheese Council Trapp Family Lodge
Vermont Chevon Meats . Woodstock Inn
Vermont Fresh Network
Vermont Fresh Pasta
Vermont Hydroponic Produce
Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’Assoc
Vermont Moonlight Cookies
Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates
Vermont Peanut Butter
Vermont Pickle Co.
Vermont Salumi
Vermont Smoke & Cure
Vermont Soy
Vermont Specialty Foods
Wagatha's
West Meadow Farm Bakery
Westminster Crackers
BURLINGTON, Vt. (MONDAY, April 2) ‘Leahy's office