Apply to Vend in the Vermont Building at the Big E Fair

Submitted by tim on Mon, 01/19/2026 - 09:28

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Showcase your Vermont brand to over 1.5 million fairgoers at one of the largest and most iconic events in the Northeast!

Each September, the Big E fair transforms West Springfield, MA into a massive celebration of food, culture, and commerce. The Vermont Building—one of six public market–style buildings on the Avenue of the States—features a curated mix of Vermont food producers, makers, and retailers that highlight the very best of our state.

The 2026 Big E runs September 18 – October 4, and we are now accepting applications from Vermont businesses that want to join this high-visibility, high-energy event.

We welcome applications from Vermont-based businesses and organizations that:

are registered with the Vermont Secretary of State,
have been in business for at least one year, and
are in good standing with the State of Vermont.

Ready to get in front of new customers, build your brand, and make great connections?

Apply by March 1

Get Counted in the 2025 Local Food Count

Vermont distributors, food hubs, institutions, restaurants, and retail grocers are invited to participate in the 2025 Local Food Count, a regional effort to measure how much food organizations source locally. Part of the Feeding New England initiative, the Count helps identify purchasing trends and opportunities to strengthen Vermont’s food system. Data collection is open through April 30, and all submissions are confidential and used only in aggregate. Complete the survey today and help build a more resilient food economy for Vermont’s farmers and producers.

Get counted now

Natural Products Buyers Mission

Food Export, in partnership with the Organic Trade Association, will be conducting a Natural Products Buyers Mission at Natural Products Expo West on March 3-4.

Natural Products Expo West has proven itself over the years to be one of the best places to reach natural, organic, and healthy lifestyle buyers from all over the world. With a heavy focus on natural, healthy, and specialty products, this show is one of the biggest on the West Coast! This mission is a great low-cost opportunity to meet one-on-one with pre-qualified buyers from around the globe!

Register by January 30

Integrated Pest Management Webinar Series

The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils team is excited to announce the first Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Week webinar series!

Each day between January 26 and January 30, they will host an IPM-focused webinar from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. View the schedule to see what each day's topic and speaker(s) will be.

Earn 1 IPM Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credit and 1 Pesticide Applicator credit for each webinar you attend.

Register now

Raising Dairy Goat Bucklings Webinar

Join UVM Extension on January 29 for a free webinar on the French model for raising dairy goat bucklings. Daryll Breau, UVM Extension Goat Dairy Specialist and owner of Ayers Brook Goat Dairy, will share information and photos from her recent trip to France, where dairy bucklings are raised for meat in dedicated facilities.

This webinar is for goat dairy farmers, farmers interested in raising goat kids, agricultural service providers, policy makers, and any interested members of the public.

Register now

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

January
1/21 - Trade Show Assistance Grant application due

March
3/1 - The Big E Vendor application due

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