Vermont Fresh Network Announces 2024 Gold Barn Honorees

To receive the Gold Barn distinction, members must either:

• Spend at least 35% of their annual food purchasing budget on local food and products
• OR spend at least $300,000 annually with local partners

Gold Barn members must also have at least 10 local producer partners, which could include vegetable farmers, beekeepers, maple sugarmakers, meat producers, dairy farmers, cheesemakers, brewers, cidermakers, tree fruit growers, or other specialty food and beverage producers.

VFN currently has 57 Gold Barn Members, and collectively they spent more than $13,000,000 on local food and beverage products in the past year! That's $13 million directly supporting independent farms and locally-owned businesses. By prioritizing strong partnerships within Vermont’s vast network of independent growers, farmers, and producers, Gold Barn Member restaurants are strengthening Vermont’s food system, supporting rural communities and economies, and engaging in Vermont’s agricultural industry and working landscape.

“Vermont chefs, and our Gold Barn Members in particular, have such an incredible enthusiasm for working with local, seasonal ingredients,” says Tara Pereira, VFN Executive Director. “We have so many amazing farms and producers around the state, and it’s great to see the creative ways our member chefs create amazing dishes with local products. We especially appreciate our Gold Barn members’ commitment to working with local farmers and producers.”

A full list of current VFN Gold Barn Members is as follows:

• Alpine Hall, The Lodge at Spruce Peak
• American Flatbread Burlington Hearth
• American Flatbread Middlebury Hearth
• Bistro de Margot
• Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling
• Bleu Northeast Kitchen
• Brot Bakehouse School and Kitchen
• Brownsville Butcher & Pantry
• Cha Cha Garna
• Deep City
• Doc Ponds
• Edelweiss Mountain Deli
• Edson Hill
• Four Quarters Brewing
• Gray Ghost Inn
• Hen of the Wood - Burlington
• Hen of the Wood - Waterbury
• Highland Lodge
• Homestyle Hotel & Restaurant
• Honey Road
• Inn at the Round Barn Farm
• Johnny Seesaws
• Jules on the Green Restaurant
• Juniper Bar and Restaurant at Hotel Vermont
• Kraemer & Kin
• Lucky Star Catering
• Luiza's Homemade with Love
• Mad River Taste Place
• Maple Soul
• Marigold Kitchen Pizza
• Michael's on the Hill Restaurant
• Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op
• MKT: Grafton
• Morse Block Deli
• Pearl Street Pizza
• Philo Ridge Farm
• Phineas Swann Inn & Spa
• Prohibition Pig
• Richmond Community Kitchen
• Salt & Bubbles
• Shelburne Farms Inn
• Simon Pearce
• Sinclair Inn Bed and Breakfast
• Stowe Street Cafe
• Sugarsnap
• Susanna's Catering
• Swift House Inn
• The Bench
• The Fort Ticonderoga Association
• The Grey Jay
• The Pitcher Inn
• The University of Vermont Dining
• The University of Vermont Medical Center
• Vermont Farms Catering
• Wake Robin
• Westview Meadows
• Yellow Farmhouse Inn

Thank you for your support of your local farm and producer partners, and dedication to Vermont's vibrant local food system!

Are you a VFN culinary member who would like to achieve Gold Barn status? We'd love to help you increase your local partnerships!

• Check out this webinar with Gold Barn member chefs Sean Blomgren of Spruce Peak and Hervé Mahé of Bistro de Margot, for their advice and insights about working with local producer partners.
• Use the VFN member directory to find new producer partners for ingredients and products you're looking for (make sure you're logged into your member account for advanced search options!).
• Email the VFN team (info@vermontfresh.net) if you'd like additional assistance building any particular partnerships.