VFN Member May Mixer in Brattleboro

On May 15, 2023, nearly 50 farmers, chefs, service providers, specialty food/beverage producers, and distributors gathered at Retreat Farm in Brattleboro to make connections, deepen relationships, and learn about resources to help them expand their networks and businesses within their region and statewide.

The event was co-hosted by Vermont Fresh Network and the Food Connects Food Hub. Food Connects works to increase wholesale access to locally produced food and develop new markets for local food producers while contributing to a vibrant local economy.

Vermont Fresh Network provided custom “matchmaking” for every attendee, to help them connect with others at the event and facilitate new, productive partnerships. Lisa Chase from the University of Vermont Extension Agritourism Research Center; Kristen Brassard from Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets; and Katharine Ingram from the Vermont Department of Tourism also provided resources to farms who host members of the public for farm stays, tours, and other special events.

Although many attendees were based in the Brattleboro area, others came from as far as Essex, Waitsfield, and Manchester.

A huge thank you to all the food and farm businesses who attended our meetup including:

• Babette's Table
• Black River Produce
• Blake Hill Preserves
• Brattleboro Food Co-op
• Dosa Kitchen
• Downtown Brattleboro Alliance
• Eat Vermont
• Farm Picked, LLC
• Food Connects
• Franklin Farm
• Grafton Village Cheese
• Grateful Greens
• Hermit Thrush Brewery
• Hill Farm/Sagra
• India Masala House
• Jamaican Jewelz Catering, LLC
• Johnny Seesaws
• Miller Milk
• NOFA-VT
• Robie Farm
• Saxtons River Distillery
• Scott Farm Orchard
• Senator Bernie Sanders' Office
• Sweet Pickins Farm
• The Abbey Group
• The Essex Resort and Spa
• University of Vermont Extension
• Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets
• Vermont Department of Tourism
• Vermont Fresh Network
• Vermont Gelato Company
• Vermont Tortilla Company
• Vermont Tree Nut Processors
• Walker Farm
• Wild Chives LLC

The next networking mixer is planned for early November at Hotel Vermont in Burlington.

This event was the fourth of five Chef/Farmer/Food Producer meetups planned as part of Vermont Fresh Network's effort to strengthen Vermont's culinary and agricultural tourism sector through partnership and collaboration. This meetup was co-hosted with the Food Connects Food Hub, who worked with VFN and service providers from the Vermont Department of Tourism, The Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets, and the UVM Extension Agritourism Research Center to provide technical assistance and guidance connecting with statewide plans to develop Vermont's Agritourism sector.

Funding for this event is made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant AM190100XXXXG100 awarded to the Vermont Fresh Network.