Group Recommendations

Group # 1 New Market Opportunities

1. Develop Marketing Infrastructure

Having developed a strong cachet for "Vermont" in the food industry, many producers still lack the means to get their products to market. The group recommends further investment in the marketing infrastructure including: distribution, financial capital, human resources, technology, market information, processing, packaging, positioning and placement.

2. "Think Tank"

There is much to be gained from a "collaborative sharing" of ideas and resources among producers, processors and researchers. An initial "think tank" would determine the questions we should be asking and determining strategies to find the answers. Identifying existing marketing opportunities could directly benefit several producers and reduce market research costs. An ongoing effort would produce a semi-annual report card on Vermont marketing efforts.

3. Marketing Products in Vermont to Residents and Visitors

While the most lucrative markets for Vermont products lie outside its borders, the state has significant appeal as a travel destination. By marrying Vermont products to the "Vermont experience", the states' 8 million overnight visitors, 22 million annual day visitors, students and their families as well as Vermont residents will associate the smell, feel and taste of Vermont with fine quality products. Partnering with ski areas and Vermont travel advertising, Cabot has built market share from 8% to 24% in the Boston area. A concerted state effort to forge similar partnerships across product categories will focus marketing efforts and open opportunities to develop trade centers to showcase Vermont products.

Group #2 Farms & Development

1. Revise inconsistencies of land use laws that promote farmland development and encourage sprawl: on site septic rule, 10-acre rule, land gain taxation

2. Support increases to Vermont Housing & Conservation Board funding

3. Explore how to improve regional decision-making and accountability

4. Reward commitment to maintain agricultural land

5. Focus infrastructure planning and spending on development patterns

6. Investigate public acceptance of agricultural zoning and urban/village growth boundaries.

Group # 3 Who Will Farm in the Next Century?

1. Educational Continuum - ag. in the classroom; 2 +2 program; existing/beginning farmer management issues

2. Equity investors needed; funding for best and brightest

3. Labor: farm labor service; people management

4. Land Tenure and Transfer: zero capital gains for land transfer for ag; inter-generational issues

Group # 4 Enhancing Viability

1. Access to Capital

_ Community Development Venture Capital Fund for value-added product development and hands-on management expertise (training or technical assistance)

_ more farm business cooperative arrangements to optimize use of equity capital

2. Education

_ promote and support farmer to farmer discussion groups

_ increase awareness of non-farm people about agriculture

3. Technical Support

_ establish a central information referral source for value-added and alternative product development, marketing, etc

_ increase resources for more technical assistance to farmers

4. Marketing

_ more state funds/resources for marketing Vermont ag products

5. Public Policy

_ establishing a realistic dollar value of agriculture's contribution to Vermont (these figures may leverage more $, resources, respect for ag)

_ seek a state commitment to increase local use of locally grown products (e.g., state institutions purchasing Vermont products)

_ establish ag as a priority in state policies; ag development should have same benefits as industrial development

Group # 5 Health, Food Safety & Environmental Concerns

1. Environmental Issues: Create a process to better manage ecological risks that arise as a result of agricultural activities. Utilizing: Education, Technical Assistance, Regulation, Research,

Cost Share Assistance

2. Food Safety Issues: Create a process to better manage food safety risks that arise as a result of agricultural activities. Utilizing: Education, Technical Assistance, Regulation, Research

3. Begin forming an approach to solving farm/farm and farm/non-farm problems. Can a farm negatively impact its farming and non-farming neighbors?

Group # 6 Educating The Public

Goal is to increase support for Agriculture in Vermont; Actions by 2001:

1. Statewide Open Farm Day

2. Create Ag Info Clearing House for education, media, policymakers

3. Strengthen and support Ag tourism

4. Sales/Marketing of Vermont Products at rest stops

5. Basic Ag competencies for legislators

6. Integration of Ag in K- College curricula

7. Pro-active Media efforts for Agriculture