Shop with a Chef: 2024 Farmers Market Tours

May 10, 2024

Explore a Vermont Farmers Market with a Vermont Fresh Network member chef this spring!  Experience first-hand how chefs approach a farmers market, their relationships with their local farm and producer partners, and how they’re inspired by local, seasonal ingredients.

VFN is hosting a series of two farmers market tours this season, with Chef Matthew McClure of The Woodstock Inn and Chef Jacob Ennis of The Pitcher Inn.  Each tour will last approximately one hour, and is coordinated in partnership with the market’s manager.

This project, funded by a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, supports Vermont's farm and food sector by:

  • allowing members of the public to experience the ways they can eat locally at Vermont restaurants.
  • showcasing the local partnerships among chefs and producers that are central to Vermont's local food system.
  • sharing inspiration for working with local, seasonal crops and food products.

Tour participants will have the opportunity to interact with their chef guide and market vendors, and will take home a recipe that uses seasonal ingredients available at the market.

Waitsfield Farmers Market Tour with Chef Jacob Ennis of The Pitcher Inn

Featuring a visit to Mad River Taste Place

Location: Waitsfield Farmers Market | Mad River Green, Waitsfield, VT

Date : Saturday, June 22 | 8:45-10:15 AM

Chef Jacob Ennis is a regular at the Waitsfield Farmers Market, and this tour of the market will include insights into the ways Chef Jacob approaches a farmers market, his relationships with local vendors, and how The Pitcher Inn culinary team is inspired by local, seasonal ingredients.

The Pitcher Inn is home to a five-star Vermont dining experience, where fresh and seasonal ingredients come together for an inspired and sophisticated farm-to-table menu.

The tour will end with a visit to Mad River Taste Place, where guests will enjoy special tastings of some favorite Vermont products.

Shelburne Farmers Market Tour with Chef Robert Smith III of Starry Night Café

Location: Shelburne Farmers Market | Village Green, Woodstock, VT

Date : Sept. 21, 2024 | 8:45-9:45 AM

Join Starry Night Café's Chef Robert Smith III on an exploration of the Shelburne Farmers Market. This tour of the market will include insights into the ways Chef Robert approaches a farmers market, his relationships with local vendors, and how Starry Night Café culinary team is inspired by local, seasonal ingredients.

Starry Night Café offers an inspiring menu using seasonal Vermont products, organically grown when available, and naturally raised meats and fish. Starry Night is proud to partner with incredible local farmers and producers, and above all strives to provide a wonderful dining experience capturing the terrior of our rural Vermont setting.

"It was so interesting hearing from a local [chef] the way that she uses local produce. My favorite part was meeting local vendors that I can go back to in the future."-2023 Burlington Farmers Market Tour participant

 

This farmers market tour series is supported by Specialty Crop Block Grant 02200-SCBGP-18-05, awarded to Vermont Fresh Network by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets.

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Guide to Setting up your VFN Account and Using the Member Portal and Directory

By jessie • November 15, 2024
In case you missed it...VFN has a new website! Thanks to some funding from a Specialty Crop Block Grant through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, we've been working hard to make our online presence better match the vibrancy of Vermont's food and farm community. Check out our industry work and public-facing programming , learn about our organization and history , view our events calendar and blog , and explore our member directory ! As a part of this project, we've also implemented a new membership management system, which makes it easier for our members to access VFN resources and benefits, submit events to the industry events calendar, share your news and updates with our team, and more. VFN members - this blog post is intended to serve as a guide to help you set up your account in VFN's new system, and explore and access your members-only resources and the member business-to-business directory.

It's Time for VFN's Holiday Ingredient and Food Finder! 🦃

October 10, 2024
Hey VFN Members - Vermont Fresh Network's Holiday Food Finder is back! This annual project in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture promotes farms and producers who sell ingredients or prepared foods that typically grace a Thanksgiving table. To help folks find the authentic taste of Vermont this holiday season, we'll be sharing this content in: VFN and DigInVT.com digital channels (blog, social media, newsletter) Vermont Agency of Agriculture digital channels A press release distributed statewide via the Agency of Agriculture The next edition of Vermont Agency of Agriculture's Agriview Our content will be broken down into two sections: Turkeys and Other Ingredients Do you raise, grow or sell local ingredients that typically grace a holiday table? (Think turkey, pork, fall and winter veggies, cranberries, grains/flour, etc.). This may include: Farms (and markets/butcher shops) offering locally raised turkeys and meats (fresh or frozen) Farms (and markets/co-ops) offering locally raised seasonal produce Specialty food and beverage producers offering ingredients that grace a typical Thanksgiving table Meals and Prepared Foods Restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving Day Caterers, specialty producers, and markets/co-ops offering prepared foods in advance of the holiday Don't miss this exciting promotional opportunity! If you offer any of the above (or anything else we should know about), please let us know using this form for turkeys and other ingredients , and this form for meals/prepared foods . Also, if you have any Thanksgiving events you'd like to share on the DigInVT events calendar, fill out the event submission form . Gobble gobble! 🦃

Explore the Shelburne Farmers Market with Chef Robert Smith III of Starry Night Café

August 30, 2024
Explore the Shelburne Farmers Market with a Vermont Fresh Network member chef this fall! Experience first-hand how Chef Robert Smith III of Ferrisburgh's Starry Night Café is inspired by local, seasonal ingredients, and how the restaurant works with local farm and producer partners.
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