🫶💵 🙌 We Reached Our Goal! 🙌 💵🫶

Here we've got Bridport Creamery cheese curds, Frog Hollow Farmstead apple butter and Smith Family Farm bacon heading straight to two elementary schools in Rutland County. How lucky are those students!?

Increasing the volume of local food in schools is one of our top priorities and goals for 2024.

We've got wheels on wheels!

A peak behind the scenes: our Food Hub staff does it all, from getting the warehouse up to speed on Organic certification to making sure our vans have winter shoes. Jess' rule of thumb in the warehouse is to have everything on wheels, allowing us to work smarter, and avoid stressing out our bodies.

Looking for a slogan! Our newest member of the team, Rhonda Burgundy, is in northern Mass. getting kitted out with a 'reefer,' aka refrigerator, unit! Next up will be wrapping her with branding. Have a clever local food slogan in mind? Let us know! ("Driving Local Food" & "Local Food On Board" are currently in the lead, but we're open to other ideas! (Perhaps: "This Food Was Grown By Your Neighbors"...?) 🤔

🥕🥕 We've Got Carrots! 🥕🥕

Our walk-in cooler is full of gorgeous, sweet, crunchy carrots. Shred 'em, roast 'em, pickle 'em, juice 'em and be on your way to to a more fun and joyous 2024! Find them in our online market, open every weekend!

Agency of Ag + ACORN Event

Volunteer at our first Working Bee

On Sunday, February 11, join us for a Working Bee at Boundbrook Farm. Boundbrook Farm will be experimenting with methods to separate soybeans from the dried plants. Volunteers will assist in tasks such as threshing, filtering, and bagging, as well as clean up. Expect activities with moderate workload in a semi-outdoor environment. We recommend to dress warmly and bring eye protection if you have any. Lunch will be provided. 

Sign up here! Space is limited.

This Saturday: Rally + March in Montpelier

Saturday, January 27, 2024, 1-3 PM

Meet at Montpelier City Hall on Main Street And March to the Vermont Statehouse

Join 350VT to call on the state’s decision-makers to address current economic, social and environmental injustice for the sake of the next generation. Act now to build a thriving future for all.

Vermonters are calling for Legislators and the Governor to create a more equitable, peaceful and healthy economy in balance with our planet.

It takes courage to work for systemic change. Bring your voice to the statehouse on January 27.

Resources for Growers and Producers

• We're conducting a feasibility study for the future food hub. What do you want to see in the future food hub? Is a commercial kitchen important? Fill out our survey here.

• We are co-hosting a listening session with the Agency of Ag Feb. 13 at the CVUUS in Middlebury, 5-7pm. Email Sarah with questions.

• 2024 Guide Listings: If you haven't yet done so, check your inbox for a request to update your free directory listing in the 2024 Local Food and Farm Guide. Email Lilah if you missed our email.

• Our walk-in freezer is up and running! If you've got extra produce, meat or other products you need to freeze for the short or long term, email hub@acornvt.org

• The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program is accepting new enrollments.

• VLT is accepting applications for the Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award to celebrate farmers and farm workers focused on sustainability, innovation, and giving back to the community. Deadline—end of Feb.

• Applications Open for NOFA-VT's Farmer Resilience Grants

• January 27: Sing for Ceasefire Karaoke at Tandem
• January 29: Moving $: Building Equity Through Redistribution at 1:00PM in Davis Library 201 
• January 30: VVBGA Annual Meeting
• January 31: Exploring an Indigenous Just Transition: A Conversation with Earl Hatley at 1:00 PM in Hillcrest 103 (The Orchard Room)
• February 9: FSNE Policy Solutions Webinar
• February 11: Working Bee at Boundbrook Farm.
• February 12: 2024 Vermont Fresh Network Annual Meeting
• February 13: ACORN + Agency of Ag Listening Session at the CVUUS (4-6pm)
• February 17-18: ACORN is tabling at the NOFA-VT Winter Conference at UVM (come say hi!!)
• February 29: The Addison County Farm to School Gathering is open to anyone who works in, or would like to support, Farm to School (4-6pm) at MUHS.
• April 1 - 24: Register today for Food Solutions New England's 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge
• Ongoing: Winter fun at Trade Winds Farm ❄️

We appreciate you being part of our community.

Fingers crossed for a little more snow!

Lindsey, Jess, Lilah and the ACORN Board

FINAL SHOUT OUT 📻

Curious about the Farm Bill and how it affects our community? This podcast lays it out super clearly!

info@acornvt.org / www.acornvt.org