Workforce Development and Business Succession in Vermont’s Food System – 7th Annual Farm to Plate Network Gathering
WHAT:
The Annual Farm to Plate Gathering is the one time each year when the entire Farm to Plate Network comes together to reflect on what has been accomplished and plan for the challenges that lie ahead implementing Vermont’s food system plan.
The theme for this year's Gathering is workforce development and business succession in the food system. Vermont farm and food stakeholders will address the challenges and opportunities presented by a growing local food economy over the two days in large plenary sessions and smaller break-out workshops, some of which will cover other topics in the food system, such as the connectivity between health and food.
View the complete agenda and speakers here.
WHEN:
Thursday, October 26 – Friday, October 27, 2017
WHERE:
Killington Grand Resort, 228 East Mountain Rd, Killington, VT
WHO:
Vermont Farm to Plate Network – 250 attendees spanning Vermont’s food system including:
- Farms – Pete’s Greens, Maple Wind Farm, Green Mountain Girls Farm, Luce Farm, Screamin’ Ridge Farm, Root 5 Farm, Pitchfork Farm, Larson Farm…
- Food Producers – Vermont Creamery, Cabot Creamery, Ben & Jerry’s, Organic Valley, Gleason Grains, Wild Branch Foods, Caledonia Spirits, Vermont Hydroponic Produce…
- Food System Businesses – Localvore, Sodexo, Skinny Pancake, Mad River Food Hub, City Market, Kismet, Agrilab Technologies, Grow Compost, Farmers To You…
- Educational Institutions – UVM, UVM Extension, Vermont Tech, Green Mountain College, Middlebury College, Lyndon State College, St. Michael’s College, regional tech centers…
- Nonprofit Organizations – Vermont Fresh Network, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Vermont Foodbank, Vermont Retail & Grocers Association, Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program, Creative Workforce Solutions, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Efficiency VT, Hunger Free Vermont, Composting Association of Vermont, Vermont Land Trust…
- Regional Economic Development & Planning Organizations – Northeastern Vermont Development Association, Bennington County Regional Commission, Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Rutland Regional Planning Commission, Lamoille Economic Development Corporation
- Regional Food Organizations – Intervale, Rutland Area Farm & Food Link, Food Connects, Vital Communities, Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Addison County Relocalization Network
- Hospitals - UVM Medical Center, Northwestern Medical Center
- Capital Providers/Food System Funders – Clean Yield Asset Management, Flexible Capital Fund, Vermont Community Loan Fund, Vermont Economic Development Authority, John Merck Fund, High Meadows Fund, Vermont Community Foundation (event underwriter), Slow Money Vermont (a Farm to Plate Network project)…
- Government – Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, Agency of Commerce & Community Development, Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Health, Department of Corrections, State of Vermont Marketing Office, Lt. Governor Zuckerman, Rep. Charlie Kimball, Senator Sanders Office, United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office
BACKGROUND:
Farm to Plate is Vermont’s food system plan (2011-2020) being implemented by the 350+ member organizations of the Farm to Plate Network to meet the goals of the legislation passed in 2009 calling for increased economic development and jobs in the farm and food sector and improved access to healthy local food for all Vermonters. Vermont’s Farm to Plate food system plan is the most comprehensive in the country and the only state that has complete government engagement.
Responsible for implementing the plan, the Farm to Plate Network creates the space for strategic conversations across multiple audiences and perspectives to make systematic food system change that no one organization can do alone to achieve the 25 goals in the plan. The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, a nonprofit organization created by the Vermont Legislature in 1995 to accelerate sustainable economic development in Vermont, coordinates the Farm to Plate Network which is self-governed by an elected leadership team. www.VTFarmtoPlate.com.
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