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MIDDLEBURY – The Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN Network), the Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC), the Addison County Regional Planning Commission (ACRPC), the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op and Middlebury College’s Franklin Environmental Center are sponsoring a special program on April 28 at Middlebury College that examines the future of food and farming in Addison County.

Addison County is the leading agricultural county in the state with nearly 25% of its economy involved in food production and processing. The county also enjoys the highest direct sales of food per capita in the state with over 200 farms and businesses engaged in the local food economy.

“The State of Vermont’s most productive effort to support the long-term sustainability of agriculture is the current Farm-to-Plate ten-year strategic plan,” said Jonathan Corcoran, President of ACORN. “We are delighted to partner with other organizations in our community who are interested in developing our agricultural economy and sponsor an event that will look at the implications of that plan for Addison County.”

The program, “Farm-to-Plate and what it means to Addison County’s growers and businesses,” will be held on Thursday, April 28th, from 7 to 9 pm in Room 216, Bicentennial Hall at Middlebury College, and is free and open to the public.

Ellen Kahler, Executive Director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), will deliver the keynote address. The VSJF is a Montpelier-based non-profit that has spearheaded the development of the Farm-to-Plate plan.

The presentation will review the key findings of the Farm-to-Plate report and then focus onAddison County opportunities, especially around developing the infrastructure to grow, process, distribute, and consume more food locally. There will be time for questions and answers and refreshments will be offered courtesy of the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op.

Also participating will be former State Representative Chris Bray, of New Haven, who was the legislator leader of Farm-to-Plate program. “As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I was acutely aware of the continual loss of farms in Vermont. At the same time, I saw that there
was a growing interest in local food, especially fresh, whole foods. My response was to focus on the opportunity, and Farm-to-Plate is the result.”

“By rebuilding our food system,” said Bray, “Vermont has a huge economic opportunity to add literally thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions to our own economy. But on top of that, this work has the capacity to help our rural towns remain vital, to build a stronger sense of community throughout the state, and to improve the health of all Vermonters, especially school children, as we connect farmers and schools around food and health.”

For more information, please visit the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund site.