Tag Archives: Vermont

Vermont Feasibility Report

April 25, 2013 – 7:30 am

Very proud to release the Vermont Feasibility Market Currency Report this week. I was contracted last fall to do this work by Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Marketing (VAAFM) in partnership with Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT).

The focus was whether there were opportunities to merge the coupon (FMNP and incentives) and SNAP programs into a universal currency for all of Vermont’s farmers markets (and also ultimately assist CSAs and other direct marketing outlets) in order to streamline the systems now being used.
The final report covers technology issues, market capacity, costs and outreach for the Vermont farmers markets and offers recommendations for streamlining through pilots and policy and further analysis.

This link takes you to my website where the report is listed and also to the NOFA-VT site where it will also be listed.

I am happy to talk about the report or to answer any questions.
Dar

http://www.helpingpublicmarketsgrow.com/vermont-feasibility-report.html

By Darlene Wolnik | Posted in case studies/research, farmers markets, farmers/farming information, food policy, food stamps (SNAP), market vendors, national food system work, public health, public markets, SNAP, Typology of markets, Where's Dar now? | Comments (0)

Request for proposals for Farm To Cafeteria conference

February 13, 2012 – 7:47 pm

“6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In!” Burlington, Vermont August 2-5, 2012
Presented by: National Farm to School Network

Proposal Application Period: February 8, 2012 – March 7, 2012

No proposals will be accepted after March 7, 2012

RFP

By Darlene Wolnik | Posted in CFSC, conferences, Farm To School | Also tagged | Comments (0)

Update from Jean at NOFA in Vermont

August 30, 2011 – 4:24 pm

Since Jean Hamilton from NOFA-VT is scheduled to speak at our first statewide conference in Louisiana, I have been in touch with her during this difficult week up there. She sent me this email:

Our offices were closed yesterday due to the fact that all roads into town were completely flooded. I tried driving in from two of the three directions when I finally got a glimpse of the Winooski river turned sea.

So, I headed into Burlington instead where I spent the day helping farmers at the Intervale cart produce to high ground. A bunch of us filled a cooler with as much as four farms could harvest before the water took their fields, only to realize that the water was definitely going to fill the cooler as well. Luckily, our local school district is very supportive of local farms and invited them to move all their stuff up to a HUGE walk in cooler at the middle school. It was an emotionally confusing day with lots of sunshine, inspiring community cooperation, and oh so much farm food gone bye-bye.
For the most part, people are taking this opportunity to reaffirm the things that matter most, but I know there are some very low spirits among the farmers.

Anyway, it was touching to come home, see this email, and realize how many people are thinking of us up here.

By Darlene Wolnik | Posted in disaster planning, environmental issues, farmers/farming information | Comments (0)

Disaster planning

August 29, 2011 – 1:24 pm

What a few months for the natural world in North America. It seems that we are now fully in the next phase of environmental uncertainty and change, and as market organizers, must plan for the eventuality of it coming to us.
Vermont is currently in the grips of the devastation and as a recent visitor, I worry about those farmers and markets that I met while there. I know from experience that the issues they will face over the next few months will be both unique to their place and similar to New Orleans 2005, Iowa 2008 or even the horror of Japan 2011 and so on. Sure we can help and should help, those of us who have seen it, but more importantly:
How can we begin to add some resilience into our organizations so that we can quickly react to our community when they need us? Is funding the top priority after disasters, or is the primary responsibility a series of human responses that offer comfort and solace? And what can be done as a national community of markets to offer help without becoming a FEMA-like casualty of bureaucracy?
Is this a series of audio pieces or maybe even a packet, downloadable for those who are ready to plan?
I am beginning to work on post-disaster planning for markets. If you feel like adding your thoughts, do send me any ideas as they pop up. And good luck to Vermont and to the entire Northeast.

Vermont

email me at dar wolnik at gmail if you have ideas or details that you want to share.

By Darlene Wolnik | Posted in articles, environmental issues, farmers/farming information | Also tagged | Comments (0)

Rice in Vermont

July 21, 2011 – 12:19 pm

One of the most important roles for farmers markets is to encourage this type of innovation and allow the farmer a feedback loop from a diverse group of shoppers.
However, the story doesn’t say where the original grant came from though.

Rice in Vermont

By Darlene Wolnik | Posted in articles, farmers/farming information | Comments (0)

Vermont Enhancing Farmers Markets with Evaluation Tools

June 16, 2011 – 9:49 pm

What: Enhancing Farmers’ Markets with Evaluation Tools
When: Monday June 20. 11 am – 2 pm
Where: Vermont Agency of Agriculture Conference Room, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT
Note: We will provide coffee, tea, and light refreshments
Led by Market Trainer/Researcher Darlene Wolnik, sponsored by NOFA-VT

http://classic.mapquest.com/embed#b/maps/m:map:5:44.259818:-72.584116::::::1:1:::::::::/l::116+State+St:Montpelier:VT:05602-2706:US:44.26122:-72.58032:address::1:::/e

By Darlene Wolnik | Posted in conferences, evaluation, maps, Polls/Surveys, Where's Dar now? | Also tagged | Comments (0)
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 94 other followers