Center Programs

The programs of the not-for-profit Center for an Agricultural Economy are ever evolving and expanding. Currently programs aim to conduct research and educate the community on food and agricultural value-added products to enhance the strength of Vermont rural communities, to promote stewardship of Vermont agriculture, and to protect and enhance the environment through the use of sustainable agricultural practices and products. The Center programs are based on the defining and implementing of a viable 21st century food system which envisions communities capable of dealing with opportunities and threats to our regional food system.

We are developing program areas and grant applications to serve the entire community of farmers, food businesses and the wider community in the Hardwick area. We are planning to create an indicator measurement system related to a community’s food system’s health.

We will partner with organizations that can bring sustainable agriculture speakers to community events. The Center will also look to co-sponsor internships with food and farm enterprises.

Current and proposed program areas include:
• Research into value-added product opportunities;
• Technical training for farmers on processing;
• Building infrastructure for shared processing, storage and marketing;
• Consumer education and outreach
• Hardwick area food mapping;
• Community food self-sufficiency measuring and goal setting-consumers, community gardens, farmers markets, school projects, local-first challenges;
• Grant program for on-farm research;
• New farmer and business incubation;
• Marketing and branding assistance for the Hardwick area; and
• Agricultural land acquisition and preservation in partnership with land trusts

Another emerging program area is for the Center to provide financial services by serving in a re-lending role with monies going out into the community to farmers and agricultural businesses. This would result in: (a) connecting investors to area businesses; (b) having a lending program; and (c) having a grant program where the Center would re-grant out money in smaller increments than the foundations and others are interested in doing.

Center Partners Spotlight

The Center for an Agricultural Economy is the non-profit partner for the Vermont Food Venture Center (VFVC), a shared-use kitchen incubator for value-added and specialty food producers which will soon relocate from Fairfax, Vermont to the Hardwick Industrial Park. VFVC is nationally recognized as an industrial leader in food business incubation. In Hardwick, the Food Venture Center will incorporate the most utilized processing and technical assistance services in its previous facility with services designed to capitalize on the local food and agriculture cluster strengths that are emerging in the Hardwick area. It will provide food and agricultural business consulting services to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing value-added producers. The VFVC will have an important role in expanding food and agricultural opportunities in the area. The Center will support the development of a local and regional marketing strategy for the food venture center.

Beginning January 8th, 2010, Brian Norder, the VFVC's Executive Director, will have office hours at the CAE every Friday. Call or email to learn more.

Learn more about the Vermont Food Venture Center…

Greenfield Highland Beef (Greensboro Bend & Plainfield)
The Center is pleased to partner with Greenfield Highland Beef of Greensboro Bend and Plainfield on a special project to provide on a monthly basis donated beef to the Hardwick Area Food Pantry.

Through the efforts of Center members and volunteers, the Hardwick Food Pantry receives such prepared dishes as meat loaf, spaghetti sauce, beef stew and other recipes all made from locally sourced food donations. The Center has gathered additional local ingredients and volunteers to cook, including Claire’s Restaurant’s chef Steve Obranovich and Center volunteer Cheryl King Fischer, have prepared dishes for delivery to the Pantry.

“Local demand for our Highland Beef has exploded, and we are pleased to share our success with the Food Pantry,” says Greenfield Highland Beef business owner Ray Shatney.

Ray’s partner Janet Steward points to the exceptional nutritional value of their grass-fed beef, “It is low in cholesterol, high in Omega 3, free of chemical pesticides, antibiotics, artificial hormones, animal byproducts, and is USDA certified – it just does not get any better.”

“Times are tough and we are seeing a significant increase in need at the Pantry,” says Hardwick Area Food Pantry volunteer coordinator Angie Grace. “Meatloaf and other beef dishes of this quality are a wonderful contribution.”

For the Center, this project is a continuation of its work to demonstrate the power of collaborative efforts to meet the needs of a community using locally grown and donated products. Many individuals and organizations in the greater Hardwick community over the years have generously donated to the food bank and other community service organizations. It is the hope of the Center that its experience in putting these programs together will be another on-going inspiration to others to continue and even expand their generosity in the months ahead.

On-going Center efforts regarding locally sourced food for sharing in the community include the Pies for People Project and the Food Access Fund. Made possible by a generous donation in 2008, to date the Food Access Fund has awarded the Food Pantry $4,500 to procure local foods for distribution to its clients.

Learn more about the Greenfield Highland Beef of Greensboro Bend and Plainfield…..