Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has chosen Mark Curran, Founder and Co-Owner of Black River Produce, as the 2014 recipient of the Terry Ehrich Award for Excellence in Socially Responsible Business. Named for the late owner of Hemmings Motor News and a founding member of VBSR, the award is given to a VBSR member who best exemplifies Terry Ehrich’s commitment to the environment, workplace, progressive public policy and community.
"VBSR is so pleased to honor Mark with this award,”said Andrea Cohen, Executive Director of VBSR. “Mark's professional career has been dedicated to the values of social responsibility, demonstrating that the ‘three P's’ (People, Profit, and Planet) are essential for a strong and sustainable economy. Mark is joining an illustrious group of past Terry Ehrich award recipients and is undeniably worthy of this honor."
Since its inception in 1978, Black River Produce’s main focus has been distributing locally grown product throughout New England. They now partner with 200 growers and producers with a team of 170 employees. Mark has served on numerous boards including the Vermont Fresh Network and currently serves on the Vermont Agricultureand Forest Products Development Board. This year Black River Produce completed renovations of an abandoned Ben & Jerry’s plant into a state of the art meat processing facility providing market opportunities for Vermont farmers.
“VBSR has been a huge asset for our business. With the help of this organization we have better pursued our mission of matching high quality service with community benefits”said Curran.
The 2014 Terry Ehrich Award Ceremony and Dinner will take place September 9. The event, sponsored by Black River Produce, Prudent Living, Inc, Let’s Grow Kids, Main Street Landing, Housing Vermont and Vermont Rural Ventures, People’s United Bank, Efficiency Vermont and Renewable NRG Systems, will be held at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms from 6:00-8:30 PM. Tickets for the event are $60 for VBSR members and $85 for non-members. Ticket sales and more information are available atwww.vbsr.org.
About VBSR Founded in 1990, VBSR is a statewide, non-profit business association with a mission to advance business ethics that value multiple bottom lines: economic, social, and environmental. VBSR members employ more than 13% of Vermont’s workforce and generate more than 4 billion dollars in revenue annually. We strive to help members set a high standard for protecting the natural, human and economic environments of the state's residents, while remaining profitable. We advance this mission through education, public influence and workplace quality.www.vbsr.org
About Black River Produce Since its inception in 1978, Black River Produce’s main focus has been distributing locally grown product throughout New England. They now partner with 200 growers and producers with a team of 170 employees. This year Black River Produce completed renovations of an abandoned Ben & Jerry’s plant into a state of the art meat processing facility providing market opportunities for Vermont farmers.www.blackriverproduce.com