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Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

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Farm to Plate Initiative

Farm to Plate Initiative

The Farm to Plate (F2P) Initiative, approved at the end of the 2009 Vermont legislative session, directs the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, in consultation with the Sustainable Agriculture Council and other stakeholders, to develop a 10-year strategic plan to strengthen Vermont’s farm and food sector.

 

Click HERE to download a copy of the enabling legislation. The Farm to Plate staff are working hard to complete the plan and all its appendices by the end of 2010.  There will be a 4 week public comment period to gather final feedback on the draft plan between September 1-30, 2010.

FOR MORE INFO:


What's On Deck?

Staff is busy assembling all the parts and pieces of the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan.  We're deep in writing mode -- which is a monumental task given that we've conducted over 250 interviews with stakeholders (organizations, food entrepreneurs, farmers), collected input from over 1,000 Vermonters at 8 regional summits, 24 focus groups, the statewide summit and 6 day-long working sessions.  We're working to complete in-depth research which explores the present and potential future of our distribution, storage and processing capacity, food security, livestock production and meat processing, on-farm energy, and other major aspects of our food system.  We're also working with Dan Erickson of Advanced Geospatial Systems, LLC to produce dozens of maps to integrate in with the Plan's text.  And we're slowly but surely collecting dozens of vignettes, quotes and photos to sprinkle throughout the Plan.

Timeline:

  • Finalizing 1st draft of the strategic plan; collect input on cost of implementation of strategies; complete economic impact analysis (June - August 31, 2010)
  • Public Comment Period (September 1 - 30, 2010)
  • Finalize the plan (Oct. 1 - Dec. 31)
  • Release the plan (January, 2011)
  • Take the plan on the road and begin implementation (Jan. - Dec. 2011)


Highlights from the Farm to Plate Statewide Food Summit

Over 300 people attended the Statewide Local Food Summit, representing a broad range of perspectives and affiliations in Vermont’s food system. Welcoming the group were Rutland Mayor Louras, Roger Allbee, Secretary of Agriculture, and two participating farmers, Will Stevens of Golden Russet Farm and Bob Foster from Foster Brothers Dairy. 

Keynote Speaker, Ken Meter, President of Crossroads Resource Center, shared data and examples from around the country showing how our current food system is not working for farmers, consumers and food enterprises, and the benefits to communities that are making entrepreneurial decisions to change their local food system. Check out Ken's slideshow presentation (PDF). 

Ellen Kahler delivered a Farm to Plate slideshow (PDF) illustrating the process to date and preliminary findings. She explained the proposed structure for the plan, demonstrating how the plan will ensure that all parts of the food system, from “soil to soil,” including all stages, scales, and markets for food businesses are supported to strengthen the whole. She walked through “20 Big Goals for 2020” for Vermont’s farm and food system that have been developed after nearly 9 months of public outreach and data collection.

welcome and keynote audience

After lunch, participants sorted themselves out to attend one of 14 afternoon breakout groups to review and comment on preliminary goals, objectives and strategies for various topics, ranging from dairy production to fruits and vegetables processing to leadership and communication. Participants were very engaged and provided constructive criticism on draft materials, added new strategies, and engaged in helpful networking and dialogue to improve the draft goals documents. The people who have generously shared their time to help guide this plan are also the ones who will be implementing it on the ground — so we thank all who have contributed throughout this process.

participants in a F2P breakout session

Special thanks to RAFFL and all the enthusiastic volunteers who helped with registration, parking, break-out rooms, compost/waste collection, and clean-up. The day would not have been so successful without your contribution!

Also, special thanks to Noel's Specialty Foods & Catering for the delicious lunch sourced from local farm products, including: Brown's Orchard, Thomas' Dairy, Vermont Herb & Salad, Brown Boar Farm, Boardman Hill Farm, Foggy Meadow Farm, Perry's Potato Farm, Dellvenerie's Bakery, Cabot Cheese, Vermont Smoke and Cure, Green Mountain Coffee, and Foley's Paper Products.

local lunch at the summit


Farm to Plate Process Team

F2P Process Team members meet monthly and assist VSJF staff in developing the strategic planning process we are employing.  Members include:

  • Roger Allbee (Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets)
  • Marie Audet (Blue Spruce Farm)
  • Stacy Burnstein (Castanea Foundation)
  • Megan Camp (VT-FEED and Shelburne Farms)
  • Guy Choiniere (Choiniere Family Farm)
  • Eric Clifford (Clifford Dairy Farm)
  • Paul Costello (VT Council on Rural Development);
  • Brian Dunkiel (Shems Dunkiel Raubvogel & Saunders)
  • Amanda Ellis-Thurber (Lilac Ridge Farm)
  • Bill Schubart (formerly of Resolution, Inc.)
  • Will Stevens (Golden Russet Farm)
  • Ryan Torres (VT Community Foundation)
  • Steve Voigt (King Arthur Flour)
  • Tom Vogelmann (UVM College of Agriculture & Life Sciences)
  • Enid Wonnacott (NOFA-Vermont)

Farm to Plate Researchers

  • Louise Calderwood (Everything Agriculture)
  • Linda Berlin (UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture)
  • Sam Fuller (NOFA-VT)
  • Greg Georgaklis (Verdant Valley, LLC)
  • Doug Hoffer (independent policy analyst)
  • Virginia Nickerson (Nickerson Consulting)
  • Rachel Schattman (UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture)

Farm to Plate Funders

  • ARRA – State Stimulus Funds
  • VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
  • Vermont Community Foundation
  • High Meadows Fund
  • Jane B. Cook 1983 Charitable Trust
  • John Merck Fund
  • Growald Family Fund
  • Eagleridge Fund
  • Cabot Creamery Cooperative
  • Gardeners' Supply Company
  • Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
  • Burlington City Market
  • Vermont Health & Nutrition Fund of the VT Community Foundation
  • Anonymous (3)

A special thanks to members of the Vermont Legislature and Administration who have provided important funding (Act 54 & Act 78) and staff support to this planning process including:

  • Senators Illuzzi, Miller, Ashe, Carris, Racine, Bartlett, Kittel, Starr and Choate.
  • Representatives Partridge, Botzow, Heath, Stevens, Bray, Lorber, Ainsworth, Bissonnette, Clerkin, Conquest, Dickinson, Johnson, Kitzmiller, Larson, Lawrence, Malcolm, Manwaring, Marcotte, Minter, McAllister, Shand, Smith, Taylor, Toll, Turner, Wilson and Zuckerman.
  • Governor Douglas, Secretary Lunderville, and Secretary Allbee.


Sustainable Agriculture Resources