Winter Series: Mettowee Valley Food Shed Forums

Liz Ruffa, Advancement Office

Merck Forest, in partnership with Mara Hearst of Levy Lamb LLC, hosted three food shed forums this winter - two in the Visitor Center at MFFC and one at Pawlet Public Library (due to capacity crowds!). Over three afternoons in January, February and March, more than 40 farms, food producers and their families, statewide sector leaders and resource providers, and community advocates and enthusiasts met to talk about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges facing our region’s food shed and agriculture’s future.

The series focused on marketing and distribution issues and encouraged farmers, logistics professionals, marketing pros, food hub managers and working lands entrepreneurs to dive into these topics together. We offered panels, keynotes, power points and case studies. Several working lands resource providers also attended, offering services and information about their organizations with the farmers and producers.

While challenges easily detected included transportation gaps, lack of network cohesion and communication, and a need for larger markets to sell into, strengths also quickly emerged: the grit and integrity of our region’s food producers, the beauty and quality of our geographic location, and a desire to explore regional co-marketing and branding opportunities.

Special thanks to: 10 x 10 Logistics, Walnut Hill Farm, Haystack Farmstead, Food Connects, VT Farm to Plate Network, and Erin and Philip Ackerman-Leist for presenting and offering excellent context to these discussions.

More special thanks to: NOFA - Vermont, Poultney-Mettowee and Bennington County Conservation Districts, Rural Vermont, UVM Extension, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and Vermont Law School for their excellent resource sharing and enthusiasm for our region.

These Forums enabled Mara Hearst and Liz Ruffa to quickly mobilize a CSA “box” program when the COVID-19 crisis blanketed the region so quickly. 12 area farms are recouping lost market revenues and local consumers are flocking to this opportunity to access healthy, fresh, local produce in a “one stop shop” format.