FREE! Vermont Organic Farm & Food Guide 2016–2017 Certified Organic, Locally Grown Certified Organic Agriculture in Vermont Total Number of Producers Processors (non-farm) 72 Growth In Vermont Processors (on-farm) 33 Organic Agriculture Dairy 183 Vegetable/Fruit 165 Certified Total Acres of Maple Syrup 110 Organic Certified Certified Field Crop 66 Dairy Organic Organic Producers Producers Production Non-Dairy Livestock 55 Mushroom 3 1993 3 78 Farms producing a variety of products 1994 3 90 may be listed more than once. 1995 14 106 589 1996 28 150 1997 35 170 1998 33 179 Certified Organic Farmland Hay Land 51,462 1999 38 187 15,967 Sugarbush 32,855 2000 47 212 22,148 Pasture 25,388 2001 55 230 23,638 Vegetable/Herbs 1,666 2002 59 253 24,351 Silage 1,421 2003 64 289 30,387 Feed Grains 1,266 2004 79 332 35,826 Other* 957 2005 93 366 48,759 Cover Crops 618 2006 129 394 66,827 Fruit 550 2007 204 487 85,147 Soybeans (food grade) 435 2008 200 535 92,192 Wheat 387 2009 200 548 98,461 Oil Seed Crops 153 2010 203 580 102,637 122,825 acres Greenhouse (1,037,840 sq. ft.) 24 2011 204 582 102,534 2012 205 576 103,827 2013 198 585 103,893 2014 184 579 104,565 Farm income: $109,801,305 Total Gross Sales 2015 183 589 122,825 Processor sales: $109,219,333 Grand Franklin Orleans Isle 78 66 Essex 3 8 Lamoille Chittenden 38 Caledonia 45 32 Washington 52 Addison Orange $219,020,638 66 45 Rutland Number of These statistics are based only on production certified through Vermont Organic Farmers, 25 Windsor LLC. There are other producers in Vermont certified by other certification organizations. 19 Certified The data complied are actual figures for farms certified by December 31, 2015. Bennington Organic 9 Windham Producers 16 FRONT COVER PHOTO: MARIA READE by County Welcome to Vermont’s Organic Farm and Food Guide! This guide is your key to finding Vermont’s certified organic, locally grown bounty. We are fortunate, in Vermont, to be able to eat local and organic food—you don’t have to choose! Inside, you will Contents find all of the certified organic producers in your community and the About NOFA Vermont .................... 2 farmers markets, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC ......... 3 (CSA) farms closest to your home—you can find everything from What is Certified Organic? ............... 4 maple syrup to raspberries, fresh peas to chicken. What About Other Labels? .............. 5 If you have followed the labeling law for foods containing genetically 2016 Summer Farmers’ Markets ....... 6 modified organisms (GMOs), you know that Vermont was the first 2016–2017 NOFA Events ................ 10 state in the country to mandate the labeling of GMO foods which takes How to Support Our Vermont effect July 1, 2016. Did you also know that certified organic foods are Organic Dairy Farmers ................... 13 always GMO-free? In addition, the organic seal means that your food 5 Good Reasons to Choose is free from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, that livestock have access Certified Organic, Locally Grown ....... 32 to the outdoors, and that farmers are working to build the health of Local Recipe ................................ 35 their soils, crops, and animals. 5 Good Reasons to Become The number of organic farms and processors continues to increase in Certified Organic .......................... 37 Vermont, so there are many farms and businesses to explore—in 2015, Join Us! ...................................... 68 there were 589 certified organic farms and processors producing organic food on 122,825 acres in Vermont, and over 20% of the dairy farms Listings in Vermont are certified organic! Those certified organic producers Addison County ........................... 14 are participating in local and regional markets, maintaining working landscapes, and contributing to the success of other local businesses. Bennington County ...................... 18 Caledonia County ........................ 20 You can find certified organic products at farmstands, stores, Chittenden County ....................... 22 restaurants, through mail order, or you can “pick your own” at the Essex County ............................... 26 farm—there are so many opportunities to support Vermont’s farmers and processors. Franklin County ........................... 26 Grand Isle County ........................ 38 More information is always available on our website, www.nofavt.org. Lamoille County .......................... 40 So, take some time to wind your way around Vermont and engage in Orange County ............................ 42 gustatory pleasure—each part of Vermont celebrates different tastes, Orleans County ............................ 46 and tells a different food story. Enjoy! Rutland County ........................... 50 —Enid Wonnacott, Executive Director Washington County ...................... 52 Windham County ......................... 56 Windsor County ........................... 58 Thanks to our Directory Sponsors New York State ............................ 60 Index of Farms & Processors ......... 63 Index of Advertisers .................... 66 NOFA Vermont The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA Vermont) has been growing local farms, healthy food, and strong communities since 1971. What We Do • Educate students about agriculture and make local food available in school cafeterias • Provide educational workshops to home gardeners, homesteaders, farmers, and food lovers Please Join Us Help you find local, organic food • We are building an organic farm and food movement • Support the development of Vermont’s farmers in Vermont . let’s build it together! markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms and farm stands • Do you value being able to go to the farmers market in your community? • Increase access to organic food to Vermonters of all income levels • Do you appreciate being part of a state with a strong agricultural economy and working landscape? • Advocate for food and farming policies that support healthy food systems, like mandatory • Is access to local, organic food important to you? GMO labeling • Do you want to be part of a movement that is • Provide technical assistance to organic farmers building healthy soils and healthy food in Vermont? and gardeners • Do you like to network with other gardeners and • Certify organic farmers and processors in homesteaders, or attend workshops to continue Vermont; in 2015, 589 producers managed your learning? 122,825 acres of certified organic crop land Your membership donation is an investment in your community. There are many benefits of NOFA Vermont membership, including discounts on all 802-434-4122 of our workshops and events throughout the year (see www.nofavt.org next page for event information). [email protected] P.O. Box 697, Richmond, VT 05477 For more about membership, go to page 68 of this book, or join online at www.nofavt.org/join. 2 • 2016–2017 VERMONT ORGANIC FARM & FOOD GUIDE Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC NOFA Vermont’s Organic Certification Program Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF), the certification program of NOFA Vermont, was created in 1985 to help producers and concerned consumers define what it meant to farm organically. These standards for organic production in Vermont were created by the farmers who were dedicated to practices that used a holistic approach Our purpose is to provide a highly credible to soil fertility, pest control, and plant and animal health. program for independent third-party verification of organic food production, and to assist Vermont In 2002, with input from the organic community, farmers and processors of all types to achieve the the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) highest possible organic standards. implemented the National Organic Program (NOP), which created national standards for organic food. To view the complete standards for crop, livestock, maple, and food processing, please visit the NOFA The role of VOF is to certify farmers and processors to Vermont website: www.nofavt.org/organic. the NOP standards, which ensures that producers are achieving the necessary requirements. Look for the VOF logo the next time you are shopping to support local organic producers! 2016–2017 VERMONT ORGANIC FARM & FOOD GUIDE • 3 What is “Certified Organic”? Ten things you should know Certified organic farmers and processors are committed to a food system that works with natural systems to improve soil, protect your health, and produce great- tasting food. Below are some of the requirements they follow to become certified. Farmers use land management practices that Livestock are fed 100% organic feed. They do not 1 protect natural resources, conserve biodiversity, 6 receive conventional, genetically modified corn and and improve the health of their soil. soybeans, hormones or antibiotics. They also must obtain a significant portion of their diet from certified Farmers maximize animal welfare by raising organic pasture grasses during the grazing season. 2 livestock in an environment where stress is minimized and where they are able to exhibit Meat from animals treated with hormones, their natural behaviors such as grazing, 7 antibiotics, or synthetic parasiticides cannot be sold as rooting, and scratching. Animals are given organic. Farmers use preventive healthcare practices daily access to the outdoors, year round. and only approved treatments when necessary. For maple syrup production, sap is collected Processed foods (such as cheese, bread, or jam) are 3 using practices that ensure the