Food in Vermont: Weekly Events, 11/1-11/7

Posted by Haylley Johnson  |  November 1, 2012

A heads up: The registration deadline for Whole Farm Planning for Beginning Women Farmers has been extended to November 15th. Find the application here.

Thursday (Nov 1)

Book Discussion: Brewing Change

Part travelogue, part inspiring social commentary, and part motivating business model, Brewing Change is about one middle manager’s quiet, dogged crusade to change the world of coffee. Long-time friends Bill Mares and Rick Peyser team up to tell the story of Peyser’s career within industry pioneer Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and of his travels throughout the coffee lands of Latin America and East Africa.

7pm. Phoenix Books. Burlington. More information here.

Find more (food and other) book events on the Phoenix Books calendar.

Friday (Nov 2)

Monthly Wine Dinner

Chef Dennis Vieira cooks a special Portuguese menu of local food designed to accompany the simply delicious sips.

6pm. Red Clover Inn & Restaurant. Killington. $75 plus tax and tip. Please make your reservation here.

Find more food events on the Seven Days calendar.

Saturday (Nov 3)

Medicinal Mushrooms for Health and Vitality

In this workshop, Sylvia Gaboriault will review the medicinal value of several mushrooms, as well as ways to use them as food and medicine. Samples and recipes will be shared.

10-11:30am. City Market. Burlington. Members $5/Non-members $10. Please preregister here.

Find more foodie events on the City Market calendar.

Sunday (Nov 4)

Harvest Swap

Here’s your chance to try someone else’s homegrown handiwork and bring some more variety to your pantry. Bring items that you have grown and/or preserved to swap. Items will be swapped on a one for one basis. Bring items with an estimated value of $5 or $5 increments. For example: a quart of canned tomatoes, a jar of jelly, a loaf of bread, etc. Bring an extra item for sharing a taste at the event if you like.

2-4pm. Lakeview Elementary School. Greensboro. For more information, call 802-755-6336 or email swapsisters@gmail.com.

Find more foodie events on the NOFA VT calendar. 

Monday (Nov 5)

Trick or Treat with the Horses

Join us at the UVM barn when students and their horses will be dressed in “not too spooky” costumes and pass out candy to trick-or-treaters.

5-6:30pm. 500 Spear Street. Burlington. Free. More information here.

Wednesday (Nov 7)

Stormwater Runoff: Treatment opportunities in urban residential landscapes

Stephanie Hurley discusses design concepts and precedent projects, suitable for residential areas, which help slow the flow of storm water runoff, removing phosphorus and other water pollutants along the way. Rain gardens, rain barrels, porous pavement, and more; design with water quality and aesthetics in mind. Learn how your property can be a part of cleaning up Lake Champlain!

6-8pm. 65 Green Mountain Dr. South Burlington. $10/$20 (fees will be collected at the event). Please preregister by emailing info@friendsofthehortfarm.org.

Scaling Up for Sales to Institutions

We are seeking farmers and other local food producers who wish to expand their sales and marketing options to include institutional selling or producers who want to increase their current institutional market sales. Please read the details in the attached announcement. Space is limited and interest is high.  Sponsored by Sodexo, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, NOFA-VT, 
and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.

10am-3pm. UVM Davis Center. Burlington

Other places to find Vermont food events:

Hunger Mountain Coop, Montpelier

Kellogg Hubard Library, Montpelier

Mad River Localvores’ calendar

UVM Extension calendar

Know a website to go here? Email the link to haylley.johnson@uvm.edu.

Posted in Economic, Environmental, Health, Social | Tagged | Leave a comment

On Halloween, 10 Terrifying Things About Our Food Systems

Posted by admin  |  October 31, 2012

Halloween pumpkin pie bites from the Bakerella Blog -- much more benign than that very real -- and scary -- issues facing our global food systems.

Halloween is a time for merriment: pumpkin carving, candy gathering, apple bobbing, and crazy costuming. It’s also a time to think about the scary things in our world. The bloggers at the UVM Food Feed have found is that it’s the truth that is oftentimes more terrifying than the paranormal. If you look at our food system, there are frightening things you will see every day if you scratch under the surface. We’re not talking about haunted houses and witches on brooms. We’re talking about real impacts that affect our economy, environment, health and society.

Here are just a few of them. (Add yours in the comments section).

10. Food insecurity is on the rise. Just take a look at what’s happening here in Burlington.

9. Resilience of our food system is being tested by climate change and natural disasters. Case in point: Hurricane Sandy – and, one year before, Tropical Storm Irene. Imagine a resilient future.

8. SNAP makes it nearly impossible to eat healthy and local, seriously undermining the strength and future of populations in poverty. Read about one student’s experience doing the SNAP Challenge. 

7. The average age of an American farmer is 57. Beginning farmers aren’t getting the support they need to revitalize the future of agriculture. One young farmer talks about his experience.

6. Food cultures around the world are dying due to globalization – like the 9,000-year-old food culture of Oaxaca, Mexico.

5. The conversation about what is good for us and what isn’t is being muddied by special interests, sensational journalism and a narrow-minded focus on simply feeding people versus an examination of the critical aspects of our food systems. Example: the recent debate over organic.

4. Labor continues to be an invisible aspect of our food systems – yet, one of its most vulnerable aspects. Also invisible: food justice and diversity.

3. A not-so-nutritious transition has caused a global health crisis and epidemic. Overconsumption is killing us…literally.

2. We are in a policy bind. Simply put, existing policy limits our ability to make change.

1. We need to figure out now how to feed 9 billion people by 2050. How will we do it? 

Posted in Economic, Environmental, Health, Social | Leave a comment

Video Snack: James Macon on Venture Capital & Sustainable Agriculture

Posted by admin  |  October 26, 2012

James has spent his career as an operator, investor and advisor taking a hands-on approach to corporate and financial design, market analysis, partnership development, capital formation, team building and exit strategy and execution.

Prior to Closed Loop Capital, James founded Barbour Alliance, L3C, a start-up and venture capital advisory services fim and new economy innovations incubator. Prior to Barbour Alliance, James served as Venture Director at Criterion Ventures where he designed and launched new social enterprises in healthcare finance, sustainable fisheries, urban education and renewable energy.

James served as Executive Vice President at e2e Materials, an Ithaca, NY-based greentech start-up founded on Cornell University bio-composite research and technology.

He spoke at UVM’s Food Systems Summit in June 2012. To learn more about the 2013 Food Systems Summit, please click here.

Posted in Economic, Environmental | Tagged | Leave a comment

Food in Vermont: Weekly Events, 10/25-10/31

Posted by Haylley Johnson  |  October 25, 2012

Thursday (Oct 25)

Free Pick-your-own Concord Grapes

Joan Gilbert of North Fayston has a grapevine arbor full of sweet, juicy Concord grapes ripe for the plucking now and some horseradish for digging!

All day. 1702 Center Fayston Road. North Fayston.  Please call or email before you come to pick so we’ll be sure someone is home. Call 802-496-3615 or email jbgilbert@madriver.com.

For more events from the Mad River Localvores, please visit their calendar here. http://madriverlocalvores.org/events/

Friday (Oct 26)

Introduction to HACCP (for non-meat products)

This workshop, led by Londa Nwadike, PhD, will provide an introduction to creating a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan, including information on prerequisite programs, conducting a Hazard analysis, recording keeping procedures and more.

1-4pm.  Registration at 12:30pm. UVM Extension Office. 11 University Way. Suite 4. Brattleboro. $15 included course materials and refreshments. Please preregister (by 10/24) here.

For more events by UVM Extension, see their calendar here.

Saturday (Oct 27)

Medicinal Mushrooms for Health and Vitality

In this workshop, Sylvia Gaboriault will review the medicinal value of several mushrooms, as well as ways to use them as food and medicine. Samples and recipes will be shared.

10-11:30am. City Market. Burlington. Members $5/non-members $10.  Please preregister here.

For more events run by City Market, see their calendar here.

Sunday (Oct 28)

Native Nut Workshop

Participants go nuts for information about area trees that produce hard-shelled plant fruits.

1–3pm. Elmore Roots Nursery. Wolcott. $10. Please preregister by calling 802-888-3305 or emailing fruitpal@elmoreroots.com.

For more events announced by Seven Days, check out their calendar here.

Monday (Oct 29)

Talk by Rick Peyser

The local author addresses social and economic justice, ethics, corporate responsibility, and fair trade as they relate to his book Brewing Change: Behind the Bean at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

7–9pm. Cheray Science Hall. St. Michael’s College. Colchester. Free.

For more events announced by Seven Days, check out their calendar here.

Tuesday (Oct 30)

What’s Grain Got to Do With It?

As you prepare for the winter ahead, join NOFA-VT Farm Advisor Willie Gibson to explore ideas on feed sources and feeding strategies. Discussion groups will also cover long term strategies to enhance your farm’s feed energy production.

11am-1:30pm. Hill Top Farm.1209 Mann Hill North. Pownal. Free. Please bring a bag lunch. Contact Sam Fuller with questions at sam@nofavt.org or 802-434-4122.

For more events associated with NOFA VT, see their calendar here.

Wednesday (Oct 31)

3rd Annual Food Systems Symposium

“The Cultivation of Collaboration: Increasing our impact on the food system” highlights the importance of partnerships within academia and communities to increase research and funding for food systems-related work.

9am-4pm. Silver Maple Ballroom. Davis Center. UVM Campus. Burlington. Free and open to the public. Find the day’s agenda here.

Other places to find Vermont food events:

Hunger Mountain Coop, Montpelier.

Kellogg Hubard Library, Montpelier

Know a website to go here? Email the link to haylley.johnson@uvm.edu.

Posted in Economic, Environmental, Health, Social | Tagged | Leave a comment

Food Insecurity Rising in Vermont: City Market Responds to Increased Need in Burlington

Posted by admin  |  October 24, 2012

Interview with Clem Nilan, general manager at City Market/Onion River Co-op in Burlington, Vermont. Nilan has served in his role for the past seven years. He is a long-time member of the Burlington community and helped found the Intervale Center.

Food insecurity has increased in Vermont. The US Department of Agriculture reports that an average of 13.6% Vermonters were food insecure from 2007 to 2009 (an increase from 10.2% from 2005-2007). Vermont Farm2Plate reports: “As the cost of food continues to rise and the impacts of the recession linger, many Vermonters are forced to make difficult choices. They may choose inexpensive, unhealthy food so that they can afford basic necessities such as heat, transportation, and medicine.”

Clem Nilan at City Market took the time to speak with the UVM Food Feed about how the community-owned food cooperative is tackling food insecurity in Burlington – and how they are helping community members access healthy, local, and organic foods through an innovative program.

When City Market came to downtown Burlington, one of the agreements with the City was to provide food for low and medium-income people. How do you deliver on that promise?

When City Market was chosen to be a downtown grocery store, one of the community concerns was how could a natural foods store meet the needs of seniors and non-natural foods shoppers? What would be the metrics, or index, that would show we were meeting needs? City Market wanted – and decided – to use food stamp redemptions as that measurement. If we were doing a good job redeeming, it would mean that we were successful in serving various people at different socioeconomic levels.

How did City Market do?

Three SquaresVT redemption at City Market has risen three-fold since 2005.

We keep statistics for every year since we opened over ten years ago. The amount of food stamp redemptions was very steady for years – around $20-30,000 per month – from the time we opened until 2008. There was very incremental growth. Then, we hit the recession, and that had dramatic results here at our store. In 2009, we started the year out at $30,000 in redemptions per month. At end of year, we were at $60,000 in redemptions per month. The next year, it rose to $70,000. Now, it’s $90,000. In three years, we tripled the amount of food stamp redemptions per month.

Do you hear anything in the community about this trend?

We talked to a variety of people. Our outreach goal is to combat childhood hunger, so we work with several agencies, including Hunger Free Vermont and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Rob Meehan, director of CEFS, tells me that need is greater than he has ever seen it, even with two people working full-time jobs, because they can’t feed families on what they are making. One other side effect is less giving on the corporate and individual level. There is increased need, but decreased giving. (See the Burlington Free Press article “Food shelves see drop in contributions.”)

What is City Market doing to help solve the problem of increased food insecurity?

As we were looking at the 3SquaresVT redemptions, we kept asking ourselves what a socially responsible, community-oriented business could do. We came up with our program Food for All Member Program (FFA) to ensure access to healthy foods. FFA provides a 10% discount on all purchases (excluding wine and beer) for Vermonters who are eligible to receive 3SquaresVT; Women, Infants & Children (WIC); and Social Security Disability assistance. Originally, we reached out to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to receive permission to give the discount to people who used food stamps, but they denied our request. So, we decided to use WIC and disability as qualifiers as well. We also allowed people to join the Co-op and waived the equity payment. This all started in 2009. The first year, we saw almost $600,000 in sales ($60,000 in increased buying power). The following year, sales jumped to $1.3 million. In the next two years, it was over $1.6 million. We brought in 1,000+ new members – one-sixth of whom were part of a consumer segment that City Market had not attracted before. Now, we also see other co-ops emulating our FFA program. Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op kicked it off, Putney Food Co-op is looking into it, as well as other places outside of Vermont, too.

What do the new customers have to say?

We want to maintain confidentiality. We set them up with membership cards with the discount attached so no one knows about their status. It’s totally blind. Anecdotally, what’s interesting is that a lot of shoppers purchasing conventional items shifted to buying local and organic foods. It didn’t happen overnight, but over time, through food demos and classes we offer. There were some who had to overcome a fear of bulk food. For others, classes taught them how to cook on a budget. It’s extremely gratifying.

What advice do you have for readers of the blog who want to get involved in alleviating food insecurity in Vermont?

Take one of our City Market $1, $3, or $5 stickers when you make a purchase to make a donation to the food shelf. Buy extra for our City Market drop box. If you’re really motivated, volunteer at the food shelf, or participate in UVM/Sodexo’s Campus Kitchens Project.

Posted in Economic, Health, Social | 1 Comment