Food Connects

Food Connects Is Celebrating Ten Years of Healthy Families, Thriving Farms, and Connected Communities!

In 2023, Food Connects is celebrating ten years of serving families, farms, and communities in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Food Connects Is Celebrating Ten Years of Healthy Families, Thriving Farms, and Connected Communities! In 2023, Food Connects is celebrating ten years of serving families, farms, and communities in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massach

Celebrating the Public Launch of our Capital Campaign!

Food Connects has so much to celebrate! Not only are we celebrating 10 years of Food Connects, but we also launched our capital campaign to the public!

On Thursday, June 29th, speakers Anson Tebbets, VT Secretary of Agriculture, Food, and Markets; Wendy Harrison, State Senator; Adam Grinold, Executive Director of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation; and Food Connects Executive Director, Richard Berkfield gathered in our new warehouse to talk about this critical infrastructure project.

In 2022 we leased 10,000 square feet of food storage space. Throughout 2023 we will outfit this space with freezers, coolers, shelving, and pallet racking. We will hire more warehouse staff and drivers to meet the increase in demand.

We have already raised $700,000 towards a $1 million goal through federal, state, and foundational grants, including $500,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending funds through former Senator Leahy's office.

We need your help to raise the remaining funds and get across the finish line!

The Evolution of the Food Connects Fleet: A Journey of Growth and Efficiency

Continuing our 10 Year Anniversary series, here we focus on our Food Connects fleet!

In the bustling food distribution world, an efficient and reliable fleet ensures that fresh produce and local products reach their destinations on time. Food Connects has experienced a remarkable journey with its fleet, evolving from humble beginnings to a robust collection of vehicles. Join us as we delve into the history of the Food Connects fleet and explore the exciting developments that lie ahead.

The Freightliner: A Pioneer on Wheels

The Food Connects fleet embarked on its journey by acquiring the first vehicle it ever owned, the Freightliner. Capable of holding an impressive ten pallets, this mighty truck played a crucial role in the early days of the Food Hub. Tracy Lake, the organization's first full-time driver, dedicated countless hours to maneuvering the Freightliner, even utilizing it as a sorting and staging area before the advent of adequate warehouse space. It was a workhorse that laid the foundation for the fleet's growth.

Before the arrival of the Freightliner, the Food Connects team relied on the generosity of Harlow Farm, borrowing a truck to meet their transportation needs. This temporary arrangement led to memorable and exhilarating experiences, highlighting the determination and resourcefulness of the organization during its formative years.



Mercedes Sprinters: Compact but Essential

Food Connects introduced two Mercedes Sprinters into its fleet to accommodate evolving demands. Although these vans can only hold two pallets each, they are valuable assets, helping us navigate dirt roads when the Freightliner could not. The acquisition of a van in 2018 represented a noteworthy milestone for the Food Hub, marking the organization's first purchase of a brand-new vehicle. A year later, in 2019, another van joined the fleet. In the spring of 2020, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food Hub experienced a significant and rapid surge in sales, prompting a substantial expansion. By May 2020, it became evident that acquiring an additional truck was imperative.


Cab Over Box Trucks: Expanding Capacities

Responding to the need for increased capacity, Food Connects acquired two cab-over box trucks with flat fronts—a Hino 195h and an Isuzu. Purchased during the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Isuzu truck provided immediate relief when it was most needed. The subsequent acquisition of the Hino in September 2021 further strengthened the fleet, offering enhanced storage capabilities and reducing CO2 emissions. Hino's innovative dual reefer system, featuring separate frozen and cooler compartments, ensures optimum temperature control for perishable goods. The Hino, the newest addition to the fleet, can hold eight pallets, while the Isuzu accommodates six. 



The Trusty Passat: A Versatile Support Vehicle

Beyond the heavy-duty trucks and vans, the Food Connects fleet includes a reliable Passat, affectionately called the "rescue vehicle." Donated to Food Connects before the arrival of current team members, this 2003 Passat has proven its worth over the years. It serves multiple purposes, from vehicle rescues and sales calls to supporting FTS events and facilitating truck repairs. While showing signs of age, the Passat remains an indispensable asset within the fleet.




Fuel Efficiency and Maintenance

The Food Connects fleet primarily relies on diesel vehicles to operate cost-effectively. With an average fuel consumption of 12.11 miles per gallon, the fleet travels over 100,000 miles annually, consuming 8,471 gallons of diesel. Maintaining and repairing the fleet demands a significant investment, with approximately $20,000 allocated annually for maintenance and repairs. Despite these expenses, the organization remains committed to prioritizing fuel efficiency and longevity by opting for diesel vehicles with better mileage and durability.



Embracing the Future: The Arrival of a New Freightliner

As Food Connects continues to grow, it recognizes the need for further expansion and improvement of its fleet. In anticipation of this, we have arranged to lease a brand-new 2024 Freightliner M2, slated to arrive in early 2024. This cutting-edge vehicle boasts a 20-foot box, providing ample space for transporting goods. The decision to lease represents a significant milestone for Food Connects, marking the first time the organization has pursued this financing option. This strategic move aims to streamline operations and alleviate the burden on the fleet, ensuring that all vehicles remain in optimal condition and contributing to the fleet's overall efficiency.

Each vehicle played a crucial role in overcoming transportation challenges and meeting the increasing demands of the Food Hub. As Food Connects eagerly awaits the arrival of the new Freightliner, the organization embraces the future with an unwavering commitment to fuel efficiency, maintenance, and sustainability. Our modern fleet utilizes numerous temperature sensors, onboard GPS, and multiple refrigerated compartments to ensure food safety at all times while transporting in different temperature zones, as well as providing efficient routing and real-time driver communication. With our focus on sustainability and environmental impact, our newest truck employs hybrid technology, mating an electric motor to an efficient diesel engine–lowering our fuel costs while also minimizing our carbon footprint.

With a fleet that continues to expand and adapt, Food Connects is well-equipped to serve its community, connecting local farmers and producers with consumers while upholding its mission of promoting a healthy and sustainable food system.


Help us keep our fleet on the road with a donation to Food Connects!

Food Connects Celebrates Farm To School Sponsor, Deerfield Valley Real Estate

We love to talk to our local businesses about the work our Farm to School team does in their communities and beyond. Our Farm to School sponsors must align with our mission to cultivate healthy food and farm connections in cafeterias, classrooms, and communities. Our sponsor, Deerfield Valley Real Estate, is a perfect fit!


Deerfield Valley Real Estate is a full-service, locally owned, residential, commercial, and land sales real estate firm located at 183 Route 100 in West Dover, Vermont, home of Mount Snow Ski Resort, Stratton Mountain, and The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain. They provide the highest level of real estate service and maintain a high standard of professionalism by retaining only full-time, experienced realtors. Their team of fourteen agents has over 250+ years of collective real estate experience to assist potential home-buyers with access to a large selection of residential, land, and commercial properties in Southern Vermont. Their agents have proven to be loyal and honest in all transactions and take pride in a deep knowledge of the area to better serve their customers. 


“Deerfield Valley Real Estates’ core principals are providing commitment, passion, and pride in all real estate transactions. We are proud to be a sponsor of Food Connects based on its local focus of providing food from local farms, supplying healthy dietary education, and supporting our school communities with the Farm to School program. Deerfield Valley Real Estate recognizes the responsibility of all of us to help prepare our next generation for a bright and successful future!”

-The Deerfield Valley Real Estate Team



We are so grateful for the support Deerfield Valley Real Estate has committed to provide to our Farm to School program. Their support helps drive our program forward, and we're confident that Deerfield Valley Real Estate will be a Farm to School champion for years to come!

The Evolution of a Food Hub: Celebrating the Growth of the Food Connects Food Hub, Part II

We continue to reflect on ten years of Food Connects and our Food Hub's growth. This blog explores how Food Connect’s Food Hub has expanded from 2019 until today. You can read Part I of our Food Hub history here.

In 2019, we celebrated a milestone with the opening of a new 1,000-square-foot cooler and freezer at our Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) Business Park location. We hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony where over 50 staff, board members, funders, partners, customers, producers, and family members joined us to mark the occasion.

When Food Connects moved its office into the BDCC’s Business Park in 2017, we knew the space had the potential to help us grow. So for the 2019 expansion, the BDCC helped us identify a space adjacent to our offices. The two organizations had worked together for several years to support workforce development in food systems. Adam Grinold, Executive Director of the BDCC, remarked at the time, "At the BDCC, we are always on the lookout for folks and businesses with a growth mindset. Food Connects is more than just a food distribution company; they are food systems leaders."

With funding from the High Meadows Fund and many individuals and businesses, we raised $200,000 to make the dream of an expanded Food Hub a reality. The new cooler and freezer allowed us to offer wholesale customers, including schools, hospitals, and independent grocers, more options for using local products instead of commodity foods. This increase in capacity also allowed us to build market channels for more producers and consumers in southern Vermont and New Hampshire, the Upper Valley, and western Massachusetts.

 And that expansion came just in time! The COVID-19 pandemic stressed our food system and brought about an environment of urgent, unprecedented demand for regional foods. With empty store shelves, people flocked to farm stands for food! As a result, farmers bought regional products from us to fill their shelves to meet their customers' demands.  Fortunately, our warehouse was equipped to have various products from the region to provide a quality shopping experience. The farm stand trend continues, and we are proud to support farmers' efforts to add retail to their revenue streams. The expanded Food Connects Food Hub made it easy for them to buy a variety of products and feed people in their communities. We leveraged longstanding ties with community producers and wholesale customers to seize the opportunity to meet that demand as we responded to the community’s need for fresh, regional foods. With a small and committed staff, our Food Hub adapted quickly to respond to the ever-increasing demand.

Along with our new expanded cooler and freezer storage space, we added a fourth refrigerated delivery vehicle, hired six new employees, upgraded our inventory and sales software, and began planning warehouse space usage for increased optimization. Designated essential workers, our Food Hub team did not miss a single week of deliveries. Our drivers were on the road and our workers were in the warehouse every day during a global time of fear and uncertainty, motivated by the desire to serve their communities. 

Our food sales doubled in 2020, enabling us to purchase more from our local and regional farms and producers. In 2022, the Food Hub purchased $1,856,450 from farms and food producers in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. 

And, in 2022, the Food Connects Food Hub announced a $1,000,000 expansion project! We are adding another 10,000 square feet of food storage space in the BDCC’s Business Park to accommodate our continued growth and better serve our customers and partners. In 2023, we secured $500,000 from former Senator Leahy’s Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds and raised an additional $200,000 from state and foundational grants. For the remainder of 2023, we will focus on individual and corporate gifts to raise the $300,000 left of our funding goal for the project. We are grateful for the support of our community as we work towards our mission of connecting farms, schools, and communities through food. 

If you would like to make a donation to the Food Connects Capital Campaign Expansion Project to Create a Regional Food System, please contact Lissa Harris, Development Director, at lissa@foodconnects.org or click the link below. 

This new 10,000 square foot space will be transformed into cold, frozen, and dry food storage.

Food Connects staff unpacking freezer materials for the new warehouse expansion project.

April 2023 Quarterly Newsletter

April 2023 Quarterly Newsletter

2022 in Review

Food Connects Executive Director Appointed to Governor Phil Scott’s Future of Agriculture Commission

The Evolution of a Food Hub: Celebrating the Growth of the Food Connects Food Hub, Part I

Meet our Farm to School Program Manager—Kris Nelson

Growing Gardens Throughout Windham Southeast Supervisory District

Richard Berkfield, Food Connects Executive Director, Appointed to Governor Phil Scott’s Future of Agriculture Commission

Food Connects is thrilled to share the exciting news that our Executive Director, Richard Berkfield, has been appointed to Governor Phil Scott's Future of Agriculture Commission! The State of Vermont established this commission to recognize and address the critical importance of Vermont farms and local food, and we couldn't be more proud that Richard will be a part of this important work.

Remembering Ward Ogden

We are so sad to share the devastating news that our Food Hub driver, Ward Ogden, passed away on December 28th while hiking with his beloved wife, Maria, in Point Reyes, California.

While Ward has been at Food Connects for just over a year, he was deeply involved in our communities and social and climate justice for many years, and many of us knew him outside of work in varying capacities. Ward was a fierce environmental activist & used his own handtruck for deliveries, which was adorned with a sticker that read “system change, not climate change.” 

Ward was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and a friend to many. He was a naturally friendly and curious person, often engaging in meaningful conversations with people he had only just met. Ward developed meaningful relationships with the customers and vendors along his weekly delivery routes. Customers such as The Village Roost have previously told us, "Ward is great! We enjoy his visits when he delivers every Friday to us!" Ward was personally committed to serving those accounts and to the mission of Food Connects.

Over the coming weeks, we will take some time as an organization to process this news as the Ogden family takes the time and space they need to navigate next steps, of which there are many. 

All of us at Food Connects will miss Ward terribly and will keep his spirit in our minds and hearts, knowing our work is a memorial and tribute to the man we knew and loved. 

Meet Our New Marketing Coordinator—Kristen Thompson

Food Connects is excited to welcome Kristen Thompson to the team as its Marketing Coordinator. Kristen will work closely with the organization’s Food Hub to improve the program’s communications and increase the promotion of local farmers and food producers. We are thrilled to have her on the team and are excited to share more about her!

2021 Food Connects Annual Report

Hot off the presses: Food Connects 2021 Annual Report!

Food Connects has so much to celebrate! 2021 was a successful year for our Farm to School and Food Hub programs—we saw tremendous growth and have some great stories to share with you. We are so grateful to our community for your continued support for Food Connects and our local food economy. Check out our 2021 Annual Report today!

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Vermont Way Foods: A Catalyst for Change

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More than just a farm, Scott Farm is a piece of Vermont history. The farm, nestled in the woods of Dummerston, Vermont, boasts a 231-year history of innovative agriculture and social responsibility. It’s not unusual to see tourists and Vermonters picking peaches in the summer or apples in the fall from their orchards, some planted in the early 20th century, with over 130 heirloom varieties. Like so many farms, Scott Farm was hit hard by the pandemic, shutting down many public offerings like educational and informational workshops and Pick-Your-Own services. And like many farms, Scott relied on agritourism to keep the farm operating, but folks weren’t coming out as before. 

When Food Connects, The Intervale Center, Green Mountain Farm Direct, and The Center for Agricultural Economy formed the Vermont Food Hub Collaborative (VFHC), they thought of businesses like Scott Farm. In 2020 VFHC created Vermont Way Foods (VWF), a unique brand based on Vermont values. VWF will create new market opportunities for Vermont producers, supporting a robust and vibrant farm and food economy with the goal to break even and generate $12 Million each year in new sales for Food Hub members, farmers, and partners by 2025. 

We sat down with Matt Landi, Director of Brand and Business Development for Vermont Way Foods, to talk about the history of this unique collaboration. And to learn how VWF will support Scott Farm and many other Vermont small food and farm businesses while building a regional food system that reflects Vermont values and returns wealth to Vermont’s rural communities.

“By localizing the supply chain and diving into retail merchandising strategy in a more structured, cohesive fashion, you’re offering small farms the opportunity to participate in merchandising and promotional programs typically offered primarily by national distributors.”
— Matt Landi, Vermont Way Foods.

Food Connects (FC): Thanks much for talking with us, Matt. Can you tell us a little bit about the work you’ve been doing with the Vermont Food Hub Collaborative and Vermont Way Foods?

Matt Landi (ML): Yeah, of course! Thanks for this opportunity to talk about Vermont Way Foods. It’s a project I’m really excited to be involved with, especially right now. 

For decades, the four organizations that comprise the VFHC have worked in Vermont, supporting farm viability and food access and creating experiences for people to engage in the food system. In 2020, the four food hubs saw $6 million in cumulative local food sales. By working together, sharing infrastructure, connections, and decades of expertise, VFHC will have an exponentially more significant impact on Vermont’s food system—carving out opportunities for Vermont producers who are poised to grow their businesses and meet the regional need for local, sustainably produced food. Trying to compete as a small producer is tough. Of the many challenges, effective logistics, overall capacity, and a competitive cost structure are key areas of focus as the business scales. The cost is probably much higher if you are selling 20 lb boxes compared to 40 lb boxes because you have a specialty product, and it costs more to get it where it’s going. The VFHC is essential in supporting our logistical service proposition, vital to survival, growth, and differentiation. 

FC: Can you tell us a little bit about Vermont Ways Foods' impact on small businesses like Scott Farm?

ML: Scott Farm is a perfect example of a unique branding opportunity. No one else grows what they grow. They are dealing with antique varieties, it’s a multi-generational eating experience, and that’s a compelling story to tell the conscious consumer. If they had a big marketing department and a lot of money to invest, they could plaster marketing on a huge level. But they are a small operation, focusing on growing their heirloom apples, among other produce, as they should. Many are also rare because they are an outright challenge to grow. It’s very difficult to predict the crop's appearance year to year in a micro/variety by variety level. 

The orchard is a living organism. 

Heirloom apples aren’t uniquely Vermont, but they fit the mold of Vermont Way Foods. The VFHC is on a mission to help regional consumers find the foods and experiences they crave while helping to build a more just and sustainable food economy for Vermont. A food economy where our lands are working, ecological resources are sustainably managed, rural economies are flourishing, and our state’s food and farm culture continues to perform as a great economic multiplier for our tourism economy, small towns, and quality of life. VWF is the sustainable alternative to a global food market that incentivizes bigger, faster, cheaper, and easier. 

2022 MONADNOCK EARTH DAY FILM FESTIVAL

Hosted by the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC), Monadnock International Film Festival, &

The Monadnock Food Co-op

MFCC will partner with Monadnock International Film Festival and the Monadnock Food Coop, offering a virtual film festival as part of the region's Earth Day Celebrations. 

The Monadnock Earth Day Film Festival will take place from April 20 - April 22, 2022. This free online event will feature films and host panel discussions to celebrate and cultivate a more resilient world.

"We are excited to offer 3, short documentaries that shed light on current ag-related initiatives addressing climate change, regional food resiliency, and food access. A panel discussion will accompany each film. Panelists will unpack for audience members how they work to build a sustainable, resilient, and fair food system.” said Roe-Ann Tasoulas from Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition.

FILMS:

FARM FREE OR DIE - 2022

Climate Change | English | 30 min   

Extreme weather events are hitting America’s farmers hard and more frequently than ever before. "Farm Free or Die" shows how transformative agricultural policies can improve farming livelihoods while addressing the climate crisis. The stories of farmers on the front lines of severe environmental and economic adversity will catalyze support for policies that stabilize rural communities, strengthen food security, and incentivize soil health and carbon removal.

Roger Sorkin, American Resiliency Project, Writer and Director of Farm Free or Die, will be available for audience questions following the screening.

FARMER CEE - 2020

Social Justice | Food/Farming | BIPOC | English | 12 min

Clarenda "Cee" Stanley is currently the CEO/President of Green Heffa Farms. From an agrarian family in Alabama's Black Belt, Cee did not see herself as a farmer. But in 2018, she co-founded Green Heffa Farms and was selected to be the 2019 Featured Farmer for Hemp History Week. However, in 2019, Cee also found herself being solely responsible for Green Heffa Farms, and from there, she began to reimagine the legacy she wanted to leave for her children and grandchildren.

Panel discussion will follow screening.

HOPE ON THE HUDSON: GROWING WITH THE GRAIN - 2019

Food/Farming | Climate Change | English | 15 min                       

Upstate New York used to be a breadbasket of grain growing. Westward expansion yielded more ideal climates for growing and production shifted to the Midwest. Scientists, farmers, bakers, and brewers take part in a grain trial test that hopes to produce a new generation of grain suited for the northeast, bringing sustainable and more localized grain production back to the region.

Panel discussion participants: Sarah Cox, Tuckaway Farm; Sam Temple, Fire Dog Bread; Christian and Andrea Stanley, Valley Malt/Ground Up. Cox and the Stanleys are members of the Northeast Grainshed Alliance.

"MONIFF is thrilled to partner with the Monadnock Food Co-op and Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition to celebrate Earth Day by bringing the community together through diverse films and thoughtful discussions," said Dee Fitzgerald from Monadnock International Film Festival. 

This event is free; however, registration is required. Register at:

 monadnock2022earthdayfestival.eventive.org/welcome.


SPONSORS:

Food Connects Employees Support the Monadnock Localvores Farm Scholarship

For the second half of 2021, the Food Connects staff chose the Cheshire County Conservation District’s Monadnock Localvores Jeffery P. Smith Farm Scholarship as the beneficiary of their employee charitable giving initiative. Our team raised $754 for the scholarship program, which “aims to send children to an area farm camp to discover the inherent rewards that come from cultivating with one’s hands and heart.” At Food Connects, we believe that all students should have access to hands-on outdoor farming and gardening activities and we were delighted to support this important program last year. One $250 donation covers, in full, one week of farm camp for a deserving child and we are excited to see our impact go to good use this upcoming summer.

The Jeffrey P. Smith Farm Scholarship endeavors to connect young people with agriculture and the natural world. Through this scholarship, the Monadnock Localvores hope to inspire the next generation of local farmers and local food supporters, by giving regional children an opportunity, through summer camp, after-school programs, or membership to the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire, to experience sustainable farming practices first-hand & watch their efforts bear fruit. The number of scholarships disbursed continues to increase as more and more community supporters realize the value of farm education. They offered 44 scholarships in 2021 and had previously offered 24 scholarships in 2019!

Do you know a young person who wants to connect with the agricultural world? Applications for the 2022 scholarships are due March 31, 2022.

Food Connects and the Vision of New England Food Systems

When you gather with friends and family around food, what does that look like? Is there a diversity of dishes? Are there more fresh or whole foods than processed items? Where did the food come from—the grocery store down the street or a local farmer? These questions start you down the path to understanding more about food systems.

A food system, outwardly facing, is pretty simple—it’s the path foods take to get to our plates. But, at Food Connects, we understand it is much more than that. It is about the environment, health, equity and access, racial justice, sustainability and climate change, and so much more. And as we are continuing our work to transform the local food system, many people ask, “What does that really mean?” To answer this question, let’s look towards two organizations and their visions for food systems in our region and how our work aligns with these goals.

Image from USDA.

Let’s start small but mighty with the state of Vermont. Vermont Farm to Plate (VT F2P) recently published its 2021-2030 Vermont Agriculture & Food System Strategic Plan. In this plan it outlines three outcomes to achieve by 2030:

  1. Increase sustainable economic development and create jobs in Vermont’s food and farm sector.

  2. Improve soils, water, and resiliency of the working landscape in the face of climate change.

  3. Improve access to healthy local food for all Vermonters.

Being a Vermont-based entrepreneurial non-profit and working with Vermont farmers, food producers, wholesale buyers, and schools working towards these outcomes are paramount to our organization. Our current work directly impacts the first and third outcomes. Our Food Hub works to expand wholesale markets for farmers and food producers, ensuring that Vermont food is on the shelves at local co-ops, on the plates at local restaurants, and feeding kids’ bellies at local schools. Providing logistical support, including sales and promotion of products and delivering the products to the wholesale customers to our neighboring farms, strengthens their ability to grow and thrive—and in turn, solidifies their place in our local food economy.

One of the specific focuses of the VT F2P strategic plan is on consumer demand. The plan recommends the launch of a Vermont Brand and Marketing Collaborative to improve marketing strategies—all the work to grow local farms and food businesses is futile unless there is demand for it. That’s where Vermont Way Foods (VWF) comes in. VWF grew out of years of collaboration between Food Connects, the Intervale Center, the Center for an Agricultural Economy, and Green Mountain Farm-to-School. VWF directly responds to the need to develop new markets for Vermont products. Vermont is a state known for producing high-quality farm and food products. As VWF grows, it will leverage Vermont’s unique position and align marketing efforts with new values-led consumer preferences (small-scale, transparency, integrity, and quality) to create and increase markets for Vermont foods.

All of this, in turn, ensures access to more local food across the state. As we distribute more and more local food throughout our community, it becomes easier for our neighbors to choose to eat locally and support farms and food producers in our region. Our Farm to School program continues to help schools access this local food through its work with food service directors, policy efforts to support Universal School meals, and the VT Local Purchasing Incentive promotion.

Broadening the scope outside of Vermont, there are region-wide efforts to enact change in our food system. The New England Food Vision held by Food Solutions New England (FSNE) aims to build the “capacity to produce at least 50% of our food by 2060 while supporting healthy food for all, sustainable farming and fishing, and thriving communities.” Their impending updated goal is to reach 30% by 2030. This work, again, is directly aligned with the Food Connects mission to create healthy families, thriving farms, and connected communities and is similarly reflected in the VT F2P Strategic Plan. FSNE holds four core values at the forefront of all food systems frameworks: the rights to food, healthy eating, sustainability, and community stability. As part of this transformation process for our regional food system to become more self-reliant, we must enact substantial change in food policies and embed these values at their core.

As Food Connects steps into 2022, we can ask ourselves, “How can Food Connects support these statewide and regional visions each day?” We commit to continuing the work and partnerships we have established, diligently working to find new wholesale customers for New England farmers and food producers and other food hubs that support their local food economies. We commit to advocating for food access and justice through our work with schools and statewide policies. And we commit to sharing opportunities with our neighbors on how they can be part of food systems conversations and change, inviting all individuals to participate in this work.