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 2013 are $25 per farm, see the membership application form

Benefits of VV&BGA membership include:

* Access to the VVBGA listserv, to buy/sell plants and equipment and share farming information

* Email subscription to the Vermont Vegetable and Berry News

* 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 $750

* 10% discount on agriculture publications from the Brattleboro UVM Extension office

* Camaraderie, enhanced communication and fellowship among commercial growers

Activities of the Association include:

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

* On-farm 'twilight' meetings and in-depth winter conferences are organized in cooperation with UVM Extension and NOFA-VT. See: www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/meetings/meetlist.html

* University research grants have helped support studies of Tarnished Plant Bug biological control studies, corn transplant spacing, heirloom tomato trials and more

* Research grants to VVBGA members have yielded useful information on growing lettuce in gutters over greenhouse tomatoes, using sweet corn plant development to time sequential plantings, whether a solar panel can heat a germination chamber, and more

* Marketing effort for our farms through a Vermont Public Radio ad campaign and a Vermont Public Television cooking show

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

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