Farm to Plate 2022 Annual Report

Submitted by tim on Sat, 02/11/2023 - 04:39

February 2023

Farm to Plate is Vermont’s food system plan being implemented statewide to increase economic development and jobs in the farm and food sector and improve access to healthy local food for all Vermonters.

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund The 2022 Farm to Plate Annual Report is here! On January 26, 2023, the Farm to Plate team presented the 2022 Farm to Plate Annual Report to the Vermont Senate Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry. This year’s 2022 Farm to Plate Annual Report provides a picture for how the transition to a new “normal” is playing out in Vermont’s food system and the Farm to Plate Network, and in doing so, points to the ways in which the food system has bounced back but also the ways it is still vulnerable and needs support.

In addition to providing a detailed look at 3 projects covering collaborative industry development between the dairy and beef industries, community-based solutions to composting and organics management, and food security planning that is aligning statewide efforts and forging new cross-sector relationships, the 2022 Annual Report demonstrates that the Farm to Plate Network is not only well positioned to advance the strategic goals of the State’s food system plan for the next decade, but is already leveraging the strengths of our foundations to bring real and needed change to Vermont and its food system as it emerges from the pandemic and enters into a new “normal.”

2021-2030 Vermont Food System Strategic Plan

www.vtfarmtoplate.com

Read the 2022 F2P Annual Report

Watch the Presentation

Writing the Vermont Food Security Plan

We are excited and hopeful that we can make a just, implementable, concrete, and ambitious Food Security Plan that leads to food security for everyone in Vermont. This year, we will write the Plan. A brief timeline overview for writing the Plan this year can be viewed here. Do you want to help draft the Plan? You may want to join a Topic Writing Team. Read more about the roles and tasks of Topic Writing Teams here. Apply to be part of a Topic Team with a simple application here, by February 15.

This year, to write the Plan, the Vermont Food Security Plan Priority Strategy Team (FSPST) will become a more typical Farm to Plate group with regular meetings and tasks outside of meetings. “Strategy Teams” are a group of Farm to Plate Network members actively tackling a priority strategy from the Agricultural Strategic Plan. The Topic Writing Teams have a very specific task, and there are many other opportunities and ways to add your skills and knowledge in the FSPST this year. People who joined the planning through community outreach may join the FSPST as well. If you are not a member of the Farm to Plate Network, but want to be involved in the writing and review of the Plan this year, please join the Network now! You will then be able to join the Food Security Plan Team listserv.

Governor Scott Recommends Investing $10M in Agriculture

One of Governor Phil Scott's budget requests follows a recommendation from the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Vermont Agriculture: 2022 Supplemental Report and advances the implementation of Priority Strategies 6,7, and 8 from the Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan 2021-2030 . Among the recommendations, the report proposes: “Food Producers and Value-Added Processors Funding: Allocate funding to VAAFM to provide dedicated, competitively awarded, grant funding for small and mid-sized agricultural producers and value-added processors in the meat, vegetable, and maple sectors.” To help address this, the Governor has proposed investing $10 million in “grant funding for small and mid-sized agricultural producers and value-added processors in the meat, vegetable and maple sectors.” The proposal will aid processing and infrastructure development as well as advance product specific supply chain development – goals of Priority Strategies 6,7, and 8 from the Strategic Plan.

Read the Governor's January Budget Address

F2P Agritourism CoP Visits Green Mountain Girls Farm

On January 31st, members of the Farm to Plate Agritourism Community of Practice (CoP) visited Green Mountain Girls Farm in Northfield. Farm owners Laura Olsen and Mari Omland shared details on their farms evolution since its opening in 2007. Over the years, their farm has integrated various agritourism related practices to welcome visitors including a farm store, educational tours, and event spaces. Agritourism CoP curators, Lisa Chase and Tara Pereira, facilitated a discussion on topics related to agritourism in Vermont including highlights from the International Workshop on Agritourism, the Lake Champlain Tasting Trail, and Farm to Plate’s effort to establish a team dedicated to agricultural literacy, and a proposal by UVM researcher David Conner on sustainability metrics for food systems.

If you are interested in joining the Agritourism CoP, please reach out to Farm to Plate Network Manager, Kelly Dolan, for more details: [email protected].

Registration Now for NOFA-VT's Winter Conference

Saturday, February 18: Main Conference

Sunday, February 19: Intensive Workshops

UVM's Davis Center in Burlington, VT

In Person With Some Live-Streamed Options

Each year, the NOFA-VT Winter Conference provides a valuable opportunity for farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, earth tenders, land managers, educators, students, policy-makers, and activists to participate in our vibrant community event by sharing ideas, resources, and skills.

The hybrid conference will take place at the Davis Center at the University of Vermont in Burlington with the option to join the keynote and many conference workshops online.

Learn More and Register

JOB OPPORTUNITY:

Executive Director Center for Ag and Food Entrepreneurship at VTC

Vermont’s continued leadership in agriculture and food systems innovation relies on technical education and training programs that are responsive to rapidly-changing education and work force needs of a broad demographic. Vermont Technical College (VTC) has a long tradition of providing high-quality applied education for undergraduate students seeking hands-on AA degrees, BS degrees and programming for working professionals seeking additional skill sets and certifications. Dramatic shifts in requisite skill sets, marketplace opportunities, environmental realities, and industry expectations within our regional food system are matched only by the velocity of changes in higher education—delivery options, consumer price sensitivity, and a proliferation of credentialing opportunities.

The Executive Director for the Center for Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship will lead a team of staff to co-create, manage, and evolve the applied educational offerings at VTSU in the area of sustainable agriculture and food system development. The Executive Director will oversee the administrative, operational, development and financial functions of the Center, including developing annual strategic and operational plans as well as strong involvement in student recruitment. The Executive Director will coordinate with the Academic Dean and Faculty on all academic programming and delivery.

Learn More

Join the FSNE Racial Equity Challenge Begins April 2, 2023

Sign up for the FSNE annual 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge starting on April 2, 2023! The Challenge is a great way to learn about the history and impacts of racism on our current food system while inspiring participants with resources and tools to build racial equity in their work and lives. People from all over the country participate in the Challenge, coordinated by the Food Solutions New England network in order to raise awareness, shift attitudes and change outcomes. Visit the FSNE Challenge website for more information or to sign up.

EVERYBODY, ROCK YOUR HARBI!

Featuring The Barkstreet Boys at Jasper Hill Farm

Barkstreet's Back, Alright?!

Oh my gawd, we're back again.

And now we're singing about Harbison.

Gonna Bring the Flavor, Show You How!

Gotta question for ya, answer now.

Am I original? Yeah!

Am I the moldy one? Yeah!

Am I textural? Yeah!

If I am your favorite cheese, you better rock your Harbi now!

Watch the Music Video

Interested in becoming a Vermont Farm to Plate sponsor?

Click to learn more or contact [email protected].

Visit and Post to the Farm to Plate Website

If you need help with web-related items, please reach out to [email protected].

NOTE: When updating your personal profile make sure you've selected "I want to be a Network Member" in your profile and select at least one Farm to Plate Network group to be a part of in order to be able to submit news, jobs, events!

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Farm to Plate Newsfeed

Opportunity for Vermont Businesses to Vend at the Big E!

Food Connects is Celebrating 10 Years!

Vermont Farm Show Manager Request For Proposals Now Open for Responses

NOFA-VT Farmer Resilience Grants - Due March 1st

Exciting Business Opportunity: The Elmore Store Seeks Storekeeper

New Resource: Local Policy to Promote Healthy Food Access

Change the Story about Your Farm and Climate Change!

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Food System Events and Workshops

February 16, Online: Food & Climate Justice course begins

February 18-19, Burlington: NOFA-VT 2023 Winter Conference

February 22 & March 1, Online: Make Your Land Available for Farming

March 3, Online: Applications Deadline: Vend in the Vermont Building at the Big E

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Food System Jobs

Vermont Foodbank, Operations Technician

Chittenden Solid Waste District, Drop Off Center Operators: Saturday or On-Call

Center for Agriculture and Food Entrepreneurship, Executive Director

Chittenden Solid Waste District, Maintenance Operator

Black Dirt Farm, Collection Route Operator

New Village Farm, Business Manager

Black Dirt Farm, Office Manager

New Village Farm, Summer Camp Counselor

Small Axe Farm, Farmers

Food Connects, Food Hub Driver

Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District, District Manager

Diggers' Mirth Collective Farm, Seasonal Farm Crew

Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School, Food and Agriculture Fellow

Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School, Clinic Director/Assistant Professor

Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School, Program Coordinator

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Administrative Assistant

Salvation Farms, Development Director

Interlace Commons, Associate Director

NOFA-Vermont, Local Food Access & Farm to Institution Program Director

Interval Center, Director of Finance and Operations

Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing, Junior Meat Cutter/Butcher

Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing, Sanitation Controller

Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing, Meat Cutter/Butcher

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, Sales Manager

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, Annual and Perennial Department Manager

Cedar Circle Farm, Morning Production Crew

Cedar Circle Farm, Summer Production Crew

Cedar Circle Farm, Assistant Baker

Cedar Circle Farm, Full-Season Production Crew

Cedar Circle Farm, Full-Season Kitchen Staff

Cedar Circle Farm, Summer Camp Lead Instructor

Cedar Circle Farm, Summer Camp Support Instructor

Cedar Circle Farm, Dishwasher and Kitchen Assistant

Cedar Circle Farm, Full Season Farmstand & Cafe Crew

Cedar Circle Farm, Summer Farmstand & Cafe Crew

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