Vermont Farmers and Craft Brewers Look Towards $19.6B Market Opportunity with Hemp Beverages Vermont Hemp and Beverage Coalition expands into popular infused beverage category with a bold vision for rural renewal
Vermont Business Magazine A group of hemp producers and craft brewers want to establish Vermont as a leading producer of non-alcoholic hemp-infused beverages. The newly launched Vermont Hemp & Beverage Coalition is on a mission to showcase how strategic partnerships can generate employment, reinvigorate small farms, and craft innovative products.
The Vermont Hemp & Beverage Coalition has released a statement urging Vermont lawmakers and regulatory agencies to develop policies that will encourage the growth of a regulated hemp beverage market.
The Coalition is a growing alliance between 9 Vermont businesses including craft breweries and hemp producers who are working together to strengthen rural economies, create jobs, and drive innovation through collaborative product development.
Spearheading the coalition is Upstate Elevator, a Burlington-based hemp manufacturer and leader in clean-crafted functional THC beverages.
This grassroots coalition, composed of farmers, manufacturers, and independent craft breweries, is responding to a rapidly growing national demand for hemp-infused products. Industry analysts at Viridian Capital estimate the U.S. market for hemp products is now worth $19.6 billion, opening the door for Vermont companies to play a leading role in a rapidly growing industry.
At a time when Vermont's iconic craft beer industry faces headwinds from inflation, tariffs and market consolidation, beer sales remain stagnant. In 2024 craft beer sales decreased by 4% according to the national Brewers Association. Some craft many brewers see hemp-infused beverages as a way to grow and diversify their business model.
“Breweries are looking for new sales channels, and a lot of us see hemp-infused beverages as a way to continue reaching new customers,” said Bob Grim, Vice President of the Vermont Brewers Association and co-owner of Foam Brewers (Burlington).
“We see hemp as more than an ingredient — it’s an engine for economic growth in Vermont,” said Sam Bellavance, founder of Sunset Lake CBD (South Hero), a hemp farm that has been producing hemp and full-spectrum CBD products since 2019. “The opportunity for farmers to sell their crop to Vermont’s 75+ craft breweries could be a game changer.”
With the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018, Vermont farmers like Bellavance rushed to grow hemp, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture established a Hemp Pilot Program, including regulations for product testing & labeling requirements, as well as age restrictions preventing sales to minors. “The pilot program gave us a four-year case study for how these products can be produced and sold in a safe and responsible way,” continued Bellavance.
Despite Vermont lawmakers ending the pilot program in 2022, The Vermont Hemp & Beverage Coalition estimates that over 100 Vermonters are still actively employed in the industry. According to Bellavance, “our average customer is over 50 years old, and wants to use low-dose CBD and THC to help them relax and unwind at the end of the night. If we don’t create space for a local hemp industry, these customers will simply import the products from out-of-state by shopping online.”
Leading the way among local producers is Upstate Elevator, a Burlington-based hemp manufacturer founded in 2017 currently employing 30 people to produce among other products, hemp infused beverages.
“Beyond crafting delicious, alcohol-free drinks, we’ve created dozens of local jobs by partnering with local beverage distributors and retailers such as City Market and Healthy Living Market,” said Dylan Raap, CEO of Upstate Elevator. “Partnering with Vermont craft breweries could amplify this impact, helping build a pathway for skilled work in this booming industry.”
“It’s our collective responsibility to leverage this strategic economic growth — right here in Vermont — we expect to provide over 55 good paying jobs over the next few years,” states co-founder Devin Dannat of Clean International Inc. “Capitalizing on this tremendous global consumer trend will be an important leg-up for our rural economy for years to come.”
The coalition is urging Vermont lawmakers and regulatory agencies to develop policies that further encourage the growth of a regulated hemp beverage market. With the right support, they believe Vermont can develop a reputation as a leader in high quality hemp beverages.
About the Vermont Hemp & Beverage Coalition The Vermont Hemp & Beverage Coalition is a growing alliance started by nine Vermont businesses including craft breweries and hemp producers who are working together to strengthen rural economies, create jobs, and drive innovation through collaborative product development. United by a commitment to quality, sustainability, and local agriculture, the coalition champions policies and partnerships that support a safe and regulated market for Vermont-made hemp products.
MONTPELIER, VT, June 25, 2025 – Vermont Hemp & Beverage Coalition
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