Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) over $1 million through USDA’s Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) Program.
“Vermont is one of the places where organic farming got its start, and organics continue to be a vital part of our agricultural economy. As demand for organic food continues to grow, this grant will help NOFA-VT and its partners make sure consumers are aware of the benefits of buying organic dairy and maple from Vermont and that the supply chains exist to get those products to consumers throughout the Northeast. This funding will particularly benefit organic dairy farmers who continue to see prices for their milk that are at or below the cost of production,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation. “We thank NOFA-VT and its partners, Vermont Way Foods and Food Connects, for the work they are doing to strengthen Vermont’s agricultural sector and support our farmers. We look forward to seeing more Vermont products in stores around the Northeast and the United States.”
"We are so thankful for the critical support that will enable us to work collaboratively with Food Connects, Vermont Organic Farmers, Vermont Way Foods, and Migrant Justice to increase the markets for organic, local, and just food, and champion the best of our state. Together we are nurturing a food system that heals land and nourishes people,” said Grace Oedel, Executive Director of Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont.
The $1 million grant from USDA will be matched locally for a total of $2 million to expand the market for organic maple and dairy. NOFA-VT, in partnership with Vermont Way Foods (VWF) and Food Connects (FC), will use the funding to expand market access for Vermont’s organic producers by developing wholesale markets, new dairy, maple, and other Vermont organic products to be marketed under the Vermont Way Foods brand, and by increasing consumer awareness of the value of buying Vermont organic agricultural products.
The grant, administered through USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, is one of ten projects to receive funding through USDA’s Organic Market Development Grant Program, which is providing $9.75 million to support growth in organic agricultural markets nationwide.
Recipient: Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, Richmond, VT
District: VT-All
Project Type: Market Development and Promotion
Award Amount: $1,016,593
Match Amount: $1,019,076
Total Project Amount: $2,035,669
The “Vermont Way” Forward: Expanding Market Access and Increasing Demand for Vermont Organic Products
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), in partnership with Vermont Way Foods (VWF) and Food Connects (FC), proposes to grow, and develop markets for Vermont’s organic producers in three ways.
First, by expanding access to promising identified markets throughout the Northeast by developing sales channels to large retailers and other wholesale buyers with consumer bases that are validated by market research to value and support the qualities inherent in Vermont organic food. Second, by developing new dairy, maple, and other Vermont organic wholesale products to be branded and marketed under the VWF brand and distributed regionally by FC. And third, by increasing consumer awareness and demand for organic food through targeted marketing and promotions in Vermont and
throughout the Northeast.
Key outcomes include new and expanded wholesale markets for Vermont organic producers, including an overall increase in the percentage of organic products sold through the Food Connects food hub, and increased sales of VWF organic products. Additionally, the project will result in increased awareness of and preference for locally produced organic food among regional consumers. Key beneficiaries of the project include up to organic dairy producers, organic dairy processors, additional food hubs (certified organic handlers), and organic maple producers.
As VWF scales its production and increases sales capacity, we expect these initial producers to see increased sales to VWF, and ultimately, for VWF to onboard additional producers and processors. The project will leverage support from Migrant Justice to support the coordination of Milk with Dignity certification of VWF dairy products which aim to engender consumer trust in the values-aligned brand.
Read more about the grants here.
Source: 1.22.2024. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vermont Congressional Delegation
