Members of the Vermont food industry will gather in Burlington and Essex Jct. September 26-28 for the annual Vermont food industry convention and exposition. The event will take place at the DoubleTree Burlington Hotel & Miller Centre South at the Champlain Valley Exposition.
The annual “Best Bagger” competition on Friday, September 27, is always a highlight and a lot of fun. Three years ago the Vermont winner, Krystal Smith, went on to become the first national champ from New England. The Vermont Grocers’ Association is pleased to announce that this year’s panel of judges will be Henry Marckes, Consumer Protection Section Chief, Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; Al Burns, Sanitarian Supervisor, Vermont Department of Health, Food & Lodging Division and Jean O’Sullivan, State Representative & former storekeeper, Burlington. Several of the state’s food retailers will have their best baggers on hand to compete for the state title and opportunity to represent Vermont at the national competition in Las Vegas this coming winter. The event will begin at 1:00 p.m.
Jeanelle Achee, 2013 Miss Vermont, will open the annual banquet on Friday evening at the DoubleTree with the National Anthem. Also at the banquet, State Senator Dick Mazza, will be honored as the VGA Person of the Year.
The Expo, also at the Miller South Building at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, will feature a wide array of products and services for all food and beverage retailers with over 140 exhibit booths, including a number of Vermont specialty food producers. The annual convention gives members of the food industry ample opportunities to network and share ideas. This year’s expo hall will feature new products, show specials for retailers and more. Seminars and workshops will include Heath Care Changes, WIC at Retail, Alcohol and Tobacco Certification Training and ServSafe Food Safety Certification.
Association chair, Todd Keyworth of Harborside Market, said “This is an important gathering for the entire Vermont food trade. A number of improvements have been made to help industry members and we look forward to seeing a good showing of retailers and restaurants attending.”
