New Vermont Farm and Food Industry Stakeholder Listening Sessions Announced

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is developing a series of in-person and virtual listening sessions for the agricultural community over the 2023-2024 winter. Our primary goal is to create space with Vermont’s agricultural producers, processors, and distributors; hear directly about their experiences, needs, priorities and concerns; and utilize this feedback to inform and guide our programs and future funding opportunities. We welcome your participation in one or more gatherings!

Upcoming Listening Sessions

The 2024 listening session events include seven events in eight locations, covering eleven counties. We will also be having a state-wide virtual event to conclude the series in March. Unless indicated, each of the following events will be held in-person, with on-site parking and ADA accessible spaces. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided for each in-person meeting. Registration is required if noted with an asterisk.

February

Addison county

When: February 13th from 5:00 – 7:00pm
Where: Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society
Co-hosts: Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN)

**ACORN will provide childcare services during this event.

Orange and Windsor counties (virtual)

When: February 22nd from 6:30 – 8:00pm
Where: Virtual meeting – sign up here
Co-host: White River Natural Resources Conservation District

***For this session, we are attending an existing Local Working Group meeting; learn more about the event structure here.

March

Statewide (virtual)

When: March 18th from 12:30 – 2:00pm
Where: Virtual (register here)

Rutland county

When: March 20th from 4:00 – 5:30pm
Where: Vermont Farmers Food Center*
Co-host: Vermont Farmers Food Center

*Registration is required for this event – register here.

Franklin and Grand Isle counties

When: March 25th from 4:00 – 6:00pm
Where: St. Albans Bay Town Office
Co-hosts: Franklin & Grand Isle Counties Natural Resources Conservation Districts and Farmers’ Watershed Alliance

Logistics and Feedback Form

The Agency greatly values the in-person components of these sessions, but we want to be transparent that we are not able to offer stipends, childcare (unless indicated), or translation services. It is our hope that as this program develops in future iterations that those services can be offered, but unfortunately there is not capacity currently. We acknowledge this will impact individuals’ ability to attend and we apologize for this.

If you are unable to attend for any reason but would like to share your experiences, we welcome you to fill out this form. We also welcome feedback on the structure and accessibility of this process.

Past Listening Sessions

November and December 2023: Windham county (co-hosted with Food Connects); Chittenden and Washington counties; one virtual event.

Early 2024: Orleans and Essex counties (co-hosted with Essex and Orleans Natural Resources Conservation Districts); Caledonia and Lamoille counties (co-hosted with Caledonia Co. Natural Resources Conservation District and Center for an Agricultural Economy); Bennington county (co-hosted with Bennington Co. Natural Resources Conservation District and Merck Forest and Farmland Center)