County boasts diverse agricultural industry

Vermont Business Magazine, Jul 01, 2003

Washington County is home to a wide range of agricultural producers, including nearly 50 dairy farms, cheesemakers, maple producers, fruit and vegetable growers, Christmas tree farms, honey producers and more.

One of the more visible businesses is the Cabot Cooperative Creamery, home of the world-famous Cabot cheddar and many other varieties, which have gained national and international acclaim.

In Websterville, you will find Vermont Butter and Cheese Company, which, too, has garnered many awards for its flavorful goat's milk cheeses like Vermont chevre.

Among Washington County's more familiar landmarks are its many sugarhouses, including the Bragg Farm heading north on Route 14 in East Montpelier and Goodrich's Maple Farm on Route 2 in Cabot. While March is sugaring time, maple is always in season and nothing hits the spot on a hot summer's day like a maple cremee from Morse Farm Sugar Works on County Road in Montpelier

With the arrival of summer comes the chance to purchase the absolutely freshest food available with a visit to one of Washington County's farm stands or farmer's markets.

They open anywhere from late April to mid-June and generally run through October with the best in vegetables, berries, cut flowers, apples, pumpkins and homemade jams, jellies, pickles and more. A comprehensive list of farmer's markets and farm stands can be found on the Vermont Department of Agriculture's website at www.vermontagriculture.com.

Buying locally grown agricultural products has many benefits. For the consumer, it is the best way to select the freshest possible food available - in many cases you are buying something that was picked fresh on a local farm that morning!

But beyond that, when you buy local the money you spend directly benefits local farmers. If local farmers are profitable, land stays in agricultural production and farmers will continue to maintain the breathtaking rural landscape that makes this county such a special place to live.

How big a difference will it make? Vermonters spend approximately $1.3 billion dollars on food annually. So, if shoppers spent just 10 percent more on locally grown and locally made food products, that would mean an extra $130 million annually for the Vermont economy. Next time you go out food shopping, keep in mind that in the same way every vote counts at Town Meeting time, how you spend your food dollar makes a big difference as well.