About The Center for an Agricultural Economy
Our Vision, Our Mission

The vision and mission of the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) is to ensure that consumers have access to healthy, secure, affordable and locally-grown food within our region, and that farmers and agricultural based businesses have reliable and efficient access to local and regional markets.

Our bold vision is to build upon local tradition and bring together the community resources needed to develop and sustain a food system that is holistic in its approach. We recognize and support a healthy food system that encompasses soils, seeds, farms, transportation, processing & storage, distribution, consumers, enterprise and waste.

We support the desire of rural communities to rebuild their economic and ecological health through strong, secure, and revitalized agricultural systems to meet both their own food needs locally as well as to determine and build the best opportunities for value-added agricultural exports.

Since 2004, the Center has adopted a unique, entrepreneurial and community driven-approach to supporting sustainable agriculture, reinforced by the innovative members on the Board of Directors working with community leaders and supporters.


 Atkins Field: Pete Johnson and Andrew Meyer fixing the shed roof




Board of Directors

Tom Stearns, President (Wolcott)
Andy Kehler, Vice-President (Greensboro)
Andrew Meyer, Secretary (Hardwick)
Pete Johnson, Treasurer (Craftsbury)
Neil Urie, Director (Craftsbury)
Annie Gaillard, Director (Hardwick)
Tom Gilbert, Director (Hardwick)
Linda Ramsdell, Director (Hardwick)
Johanna Laggis, Director (East Hardwick)

Staff

Monty Fischer, Executive Director
Elena Gustavson, Education & Community Outreach

Read the bios of our Board and Staff

Read a Welcome Letter from Tom Stearns, our President…

 

Our History

 

  soybeans

The Center for an Agricultural Economy was originally known as the Center for a Biobased Economy and was founded in 2004 by Andrew Meyer, owner of Vermont Natural Coatings, a whey-based varnish company, and Vermont Soy, an organic soy drink and tofu company. As the son of a local dairy farmer and as a “green” entrepreneur, he saw first hand the need for an organization to bring resources into the Hardwick area to support the region’s interest in promoting the development of value-added food products to enhance economic conditions.





2008 Field Days: Jeffrey Ferrell of NECI and Monty Fischer from Hardwick's Center for an Agricultural Economy

Annual Reports

Download our 2009 Annual Report here
Download our 2008 Annual Report here (link coming soon)


Core Goals for 2010

Our guide posts involve strengthening community via a strengthened local economy; a secure regional food system; providing access to information and acting as an expanded facilitator between consumers and producers.

You can read more about our Core Goals for 2010 by clicking here.(link coming soon)

 

North Hardwick Organic Dairy
North Hardwick Organic Dairy

Summary Milestones and Accomplishments to Date

March 2010: Last session of Taste of Place and work begins on interviewing dairy producers to further understand needs for value added production.

January 2010: We begin the first of many meetings of the Vermont Food Venture Center (VFVC) Advisory Committee which acts as an advisory group to Northeastern Enterprises  during the construction and long term planning for the VFVC's new facility in Hardwick. Due to break ground in May 2010.

October 2009: Second Annual Pies for People is launched with harvesting at High Mowing Seeds and seed extraction at Pete's Greens. Bake night follows in November. We begin our first of five sessions for the Taste of Place feasibility study in partnership with VT Agency of Agriculture, Farm and Markets as well as the Center for Rural Studies out of UVM.

September 2009: We hold our first Open House. The Red Wagon: Facing Hunger is screened and a discussion led by CAE board chair, Tom Stearns, about hunger in Vermont. Also, Emeril and Planet Green shoots an episode on Hardwick

August 2009: Senator Leahy announces additional funds for the Vermont Food Venture Center which will allow them to break ground on a new Hardwick facility in the spring of 2010 as well as funds to VSJF for its biofuels projects. We celebrate 1 year in our office on S. Main Street in Hardwick, VT.

July 2009: Large grant funded to the Vermont Food Venture Center bringing them closer to Hardwick

June 2009: New England Grassroots Environmental Fund grants us $1200 towards the Hardwick Community Garden.

May 2009: Community Visioning process underway at Atkins Field with UVM's Diane Gayer

April 2009: Feasability Study completed for agricultural Eco-Industrial Park concept

March 2009: Established joint workplan with the Northern Rivers Land Trust for indentification of important agricultural lands 

January 2009: As part of the efforts to establish the Food Access Fund, the Center donated locally sourced and prepared foods to the Hardwick Area Food Pantry 

September 2008: Established a joint Memorandum of Understanding with UVM for research and education 

August 2008: Board Strategic Planning process initiated along with office opening

September 2007: Vermont Community Foundation/Sustainable Communities Grant Program awards grant to promote “Hardwick Intervale”

March 2007: VHCB and Vermont Land Trust awards the Center grants for acquisition of Atkins Field

September 2006: Vermont Community Foundation/Sustainable Futures Grant Program awards grant to develop management strategy for 15-acre Atkins Field in Hardwick

May 2006: Hardwick Community Garden Revitalized

March 2006: New England Grassroots Environmental Fund awards the CAE financial support for the Hardwick Community Garden revitalization

February 2005: First Board of Directors Meeting

March 2004: Incorporated in Vermont

Jasper Hill Cheese Co.
Jasper Hill Farm: Straining Curd

 

 

 

 

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