Covid-19 Resources for Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers  
      (not a complete list, no endorsement intended, updates ongoing)

Extension and State Agency Guidance

   Covid-19 Guidance VT Agency of Agriculture
    State of Vermont Pick-Your-Own restart guidance 6-1-20
   State of Vermont farmers' market guidance  Updated 5-28-20 
    State of Vermont retail greenhouses, nurseries, garden center guidance 4-24-20
    Risk Reduction Options for PYO. UVM Extension 4-24-20
    Best Management Practices for U-Pick Farms During the COVID-19 Pandemic Cornell University 4-28-20

   
Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers University of Vermont Extension
    Small Farms, Local Food, and COVID-19: What Do You Need to Know? Oregon State University Small Farms Program
    Covid-19 and Farmers Markets Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets
    Information on COVID-19 for Farms, Agricultural Businesses, Farm Markets and Service Providers. Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets
    Vermont Speciality Foods Assn. Coronavirus Resource Guide

Cleaning and Sanitizing

  •  A Guide to Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting for Produce Farms University of Vermont Extension
   •  EPA list of disinfectants for use against Covid-19. You can also follow the CDC guidance and use 5 tablespoons bleach/gal.water (= 4 teaspoons/quart).
   •  EPA List N with Materials Allowed for Use on Organic Farms Highlighted
   •  Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 For Retail Stores New York State
   •  How To Clean and Disinfect Schools To Help Slow the Spread of Flu -  Centers for Disease Control          

On-line Ordering Platforms

    •  Online Store: Barn2Door https://www.barn2door.com/
                 Pricing: $299-499  Set-up fee, then $59-99/mo
                 Features: Online Store, website, invoices and pack lists
    •  CSA & Food Hub Software: Farmigo https://www.farmigo.com/
                Pricing: 2% of deliveries
    •  CSA Software: Harvie https://www.harvie.farm/
                Custom box solutions
                Pricing: $500 Set-up, 7% transaction fee, 2.9% + $.30 Credit card charge
    •  Farmer & Food hub Software: Local Food Marketplace https://home.localfoodmarketplace.com/
                Online store, pack sheets, reporting, reoccurring orders, traceability
                Pricing: $499-1499 Set-up fee, $79-299/mo
    •  Online Store for Farmers, Food Hubs & Markets: Local Line https://site.localline.ca/
                Pricing: $0-79
                Features: Reports, analytics, online store, add on’s available for quickbooks or reoccurring order features
    •  Online Store Shopify https://www.shopify.com/
                Pricing: $29-299/mo, 2% Fee on all sales, an additional 2.9% + $.30 per credit card transaction
    •   Online-store: Food 4 All https://www.food4all.com/sell-food-online-csa-software/
                Pricing: Free point of sale use, 2.5% + $.95 per transaction, additional credit card fee of 3.4$ + $.30
                Features: Mobile point of sale, and online store
                No Monthly subscription
    •  Order Management Platform: Cropolis https://cropolis.co/
                Pricing $29-99/mo
                Order forms, pack lists & reporting
    •  Online Store: Square https://squareup.com/us/en
                Pricing: 2.9% + $.30 per transaction
                Point of sale system, online store, payroll, analytics and invoicing
    •  HappyCSA  http://happycsa.com/ (developed by a VVBGA Farm in WV!)
                Monthly price based on the size of membership. No percentage of sales. Plans start at $29/month.
                Share management, customer sign up, harvest and packing info, drop spot and home delivery routing, tracks sales over time. 

     Digital Marketing Planner UVM Extension
     On-line Ordering Optionss for Farmers Intervale Center and VHCB
     Summary of on-line ordering platforms Young Farmers Coalition
  

    Farm Workers
     Employment Law Related to Covid-19 Fact Sheet Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, Vermont Law School. 4/3/20
     Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Centers for Disease Control 
 

    Assistance for Farmers


    •  Farm First Vermont is a free, confidential service to help farmers address stress. Covers Vermont farm owners and family members living on the farm.
        Call (877) 493-6216
    •  USDA Farm Service Agency loan programs
    •  Vermont Farm Fund provides no-hassle, friendly-term business and emergency loans to Vermont farmers and food producers. 
    •  Vermont Agricultural Credit Corporation

    Businesses and Entities Allowed to Operate in Vermont

   •  Executive order establishing "agriculture and farms, animal shelters, production and delivery of seed, chemicals and fertilizers, CSAs and veterinarians" as essential public services.
   •  Request for Continuing of Business Operations using the appropriate industry code

    Farmer-Generated Resources (in Word so you can edit)

   • 
CSA Member Procedures
   •  CSA Farm Staff Procedures
   •  Daily Cleaning and Sanitizing Checklist
  •  Employee Committments Form
   •  Employee Posting
  •  Example Requests to State to Operate Greenhouse, Nursery, Floriculture Business
   •  Farmstand Posting
   •  Farm Stand Procedures
   •  Farm Worker Protocols
 
•  Greenhouse Hygiene and Sanitation Procedures
   •  Letter to CSA Members
   •  Letter for Commuting Workers as part of Essential Business
   •  Letter to Retail Customers
   •  On-line Order and Farm Stand Pick Up for CSA and Retail
   •  No-Contact Delivery Policy 
   •  Surfaces to Sanitize List
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