VERMONT
VEGETABLE AND BERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION

The mission of the VV&BGA  is to promote the economic, environmental and social sustainability of vegetable and berry farming in Vermont through education, promotion and communication among growers.

Formed in 1976 as a non-profit growers organization, the membership consists of large and small scale growers (from organic to conventional, wholesale to retail, and everything in-between), industry representatives (seed companies, compost makers, agricultural chemical representatives), University of Vermont extension and research specialists, and Vermont Agency of Agriculture personnel.

Membership is open to any individual, business, or organization that is that is interested in the commercial production of vegetables and/or berries. Memberships run on the calendar year and are renewable annually. Funds collected from membership dues are used to pay for the Association's operating costs, research grants, promotion efforts, and complimentary publications for members, described below.

Annual dues are set by the Board of Directors. Dues for 2012 are $50 for a full membership, $20 for reduced benfits membership, see the application form

          Benefits of VV&BGA membership include:

* Hardcopy subscription to the bi-weekly Agriview newsletter, which includes the Vermont Vegetable and Berry News

* Subscription to American Vegetable Grower or American Fruit Grower magazine

*A copy of the biennial New England Extension Management Guide for either Vegetables or Small Fruit

* Discount of $10 on the registration fee for the VV&BGA Annual Meeting

* Free admission to on-farm twilight meetings

* Eligibility to apply for an annual research grant of up to $500

* Use of Integrated Crop Management Standards

* Camaraderie, enhanced communication and fellowship among commercial growers

* On-line farm marketing

           Activities of the Association include:

An Annual Meeting provides information from growers, specialists, and invited guests

* On-farm grower 'twilight' meetings during the season are organized in cooperation with UVM Extension and NOFA-VT, see: www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.html

* Research grants have helped support University research, for example UVM's Tarnished Plant Bug biological control studies, corn transplant studies and heirloom tomato trials

* Sponsorship of the Vegetable and Berry Horticulture Award for students at UVM

* Marketing our farms through efforts such as theVermont Public Radio ad campaign

* Market promotion with Vermont Public Television local food cooking shows

* Our legislative network helps represent grower interests at meetings that affect our industry

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