June 4, 2020

Supporting Local Cheesemakers during Dairy Month

We’re so fortunate here in Vermont to be home to some of the finest cheesemakers in the world. Vermont cheesemakers set records in 2019, collectively taking home an astounding 44 ribbons at the prestigious American Cheese Society’s 36th Annual Awards competition in Richmond, Virginia. The 2019 World Cheese Awards hosted by The Guild of Fine Food in the UK saw 7 Vermont cheesemakers take home awards, including 2 gold medals. The Vermont Cheese Council lists 53 cheesemakers in our state, 8 of which are located in Addison County. According to Vermont Cheese Council Executive Director, Tom Bivins, “The importance of the dairy and cheese industry to Vermont agriculture is significant socially and culturally, as well as enhancing our sense of place and supporting agriculture economies in their communities.”

For years, Vermont’s artisanal cheeses have been a rare bright spot in an otherwise ailing dairy landscape, but as VPR reported in April, Vermont’s specialty cheesemakers are taking an extra hard hit during the pandemic. With the mandatory closure of restaurants and institutions across the state and the fact that many consumers are needing to significantly trim their food budgets, sales for Vermont’s specialty cheese producers dropped 50-70% almost overnight. Adding to the crisis is the fact that these farmers and cheesemakers were ineligible for the emergency relief loans made available to most other small businesses in the initial $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package. They were able to qualify for the payroll protection program made available in the second tier of the relief package, though it remains to be seen if this will be sufficient to prevent a significant decline in the number of specialty cheese producers in Vermont.

Morgan & Chad Beckwith of Ice House Farm in Goshen

Of course, the cows and goats must still be milked, so many of Vermont’s resilient cheesemakers quickly shifted their business models to include direct-to-consumer sales through online platforms, roadside farm stands, and by partnering with other local farms to be included in community-supported agriculture (CSA) packages. The Vermont Cheese Council stepped in to help provide a way for cheesemakers to keep moving cheese our of their aging spaces by creating an Online Sales Directory and the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN-VT) created an online farmers market, to help connect shoppers with cheesemakers from Blue Ledge Farm, Bridport Creamery, Champlain Valley Creamery, Fairy Tale Farm, and Ice House Farm.

Blue Ledge Farm installed a mini-fridge at their farm stand to keep their direct-to-consumer sales flowing.

Since 1939, June has been designated as Dairy Month, so what better way to celebrate than by stocking up on some of your favorite local cheeses? Perhaps you have a graduation to celebrate, a socially-distanced barbecue with friends, or you simply want to treat yourself to that perfect wedge of your favorite cheese. Your local cheesemakers will certainly appreciate your support.

May 27, 2020

Spotlight on Lawson’s Finest Liquids

Warm weather is finally here and socially distanced barbecues are officially a thing, so we wanted to take a moment to shine our Co-op Spotlight on a local independent craft beer producer that is bound to bring some sunshine to your social scene. Lawson’s Finest Liquids hails from the Mad River Valley of Vermont and their craft brews have earned critical acclaim and an enthusiastic fan following. Read on to learn more about this celebrated craft brewery, their commitment to the local community, and their heady brews:

Their Story

In 2008, after 20 years of homebrewing, Sean and Karen Lawson officially founded Lawson’s Finest Liquids in a small building resembling a sugarhouse adjacent to their home. Fast forward to 2018 and the brewery grounds in Waitsfield consist of three buildings occupying more than 25,000 square feet, housing a 34-barrel brewery, taproom, retail store, warehouse, and distribution center. What began as a husband and wife team is now home to over 50 employees. Their specialty maple beers & IPA’s have garnered awards at the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, and at two National IPA championships.

Sean is a graduate of the University of Vermont, with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and a Masters in Forestry. His first career was as a scientist and educator. Sean continues to lead outings with the Naturalist Program he founded in 1996 at Mad River Glen ski area. Sean served as President of Vermont Brewers Association from 2014-2017 and was an active Board member for nine years.

Karen is also a graduate of the University of Vermont, with a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Psychology was obtained at Franklin Pierce in NH. After graduation, Karen had a 20-year career in Vermont state government.

Sean and Karen were recently named as the 2020 Vermont Small Business Persons of the year by the US Small Business Administration. According to Vermont Business Magazine, the Lawson’s were awarded this honor in recognition of their employment growth, success in the marketplace, company expansion, and community involvement.

Philanthropy

The Lawsons are committed to paying their employees a generous living wage and benefits, which Karen noted as being particularly important in a service-oriented ski town where income often reflects the vagaries of weather and scheduling. In lieu of tipping at their taproom, guests are invited to make a contribution to a featured local nonprofit. This program, known as the Sunshine Fund, features a rotating list of non-profits who serve as the beneficiary for this program. The non-profits are selected based on their work supporting healthy communities, food and economic security, natural resource protection, and sustainable recreation. Since their taproom opening in October 2018, they’ve been able to donate half a million dollars to local non-profit organizations through the Sunshine Fund!

In addition to the Sunshine Fund, the fine folks at Lawson’s Finest also offer mini-grants via their Super Sessions initiative. Through this program, they aim to build impactful connections and strengthen communities while creating memorable experiences by offering pint-sized grants for playful Super Sessions to bring people together in fun ways that build community anywhere Lawson’s Finest is distributed. For example, a group could organize a synchronized cannonball jump in the town pond to raise money for cancer research or sponsor a bike parade and cook-out to honor local school teachers. Quarterly, their employee-run Super Session Selection Squad will choose projects to each receive up to a $250 check to launch a Super Session. Applications will be scored on several criteria including innovation, community-building, fun, and credibility. Click here for an application.

Mission

Lawson’s Finest Liquids produces beer of the highest quality with outstanding freshness. They emulate the best of widely appreciated styles of beer, featuring world-class IPAs and unique maple brews while quenching the thirst of beer lovers from near and far.

Core Values

Lawson’s Finest Liquids aims for the highest quality standards in our beer production and in how they build relationships with employees, community partners, customers, and each other. They do this by valuing:

Quality
Our employees
Our customers
Communication
Community
Our company
Transparency
Philanthropy
Genuine personal interactions

In addition, they value the beautiful Mad River Valley and work to reduce their environmental impact through the conservation of resources. They use earth-friendly products in their operations and re-use and recycle their materials.

Current Services

During this very challenging time, their taproom must remain closed, though their drive-thru retail store allows for easy pickups of your online orders. Click here to learn more about the process and policies for their online ordering and curbside pick-up program. They are adhering to all of the latest guidance from the Vermont Governor’s office and the CDC in order to ensure the safety of their staff and guests. They continue to offer a 40% discount for healthcare workers (please bring your work ID). They want to thank all of their guests for continuing to support Lawson’s Finest Liquids in this new environment, and they look forward to the day when we can all share a cheers over a beer in the taproom again!

Their Beers

In addition to their highly-touted year-round offerings — Sip of Sunshine and Super Session IPA series, Lawson’s Finest offers a rotating selection of beers which can be seen here. Also, click here to check out their 2020 release schedule.

May 23, 2020

Spotlight on New Leaf Organics

Garden planting season is in full swing and we’re casting our Co-op Spotlight on New Leaf Organics, who not only keeps our produce shelves stocked with an abundant array of seasonal fruits and veggies but also allows us to offer a stunning variety of locally-grown veggie and herb seedlings for gardeners in the spring! New this season – their seedlings are available for online order! They want to make growing your own food as easy as possible right now! These herb and veggie seedlings are available for pre-order and pre-packing for your health and convenience. Read on to learn more about this fantastic local, organic farm hailing from Bristol, VT:

Nestled in the rolling hills near the Bristol-Monkton town line is a sweet little farm called New Leaf Organics. Now in her 20th year in business, Farmer Jill Koppel leads her rockstar crew to produce some of the most beautiful and delicious flowers, fruits, and veggies you’ll find anywhere in Vermont. Their farm has evolved quite a bit over the years, but their core mission remains the same; growing high-quality organic produce, flowers, and plants that improve soil health and strengthen the community.

Their Mission

to grow high quality, deliciously fresh organic produce and flowers.
to maintain and build the health of our soil and water.
to keep this land open and in agricultural production.
to bring community together in appreciation of good food and eating with the seasons.
to help couples create a memorable wedding day brightened with our beautiful flowers
to be a healthy and joyous place for kids to roam and discover and help them learn where our food really comes from.
to provide a positive and meaningful place to work for our employees and ourselves.

New Leaf Organics grows 5 acres of vegetables, berries, and flowers which are all sold in Vermont. You can shop their online store and/or visit their farmstand. Their online store offers curbside pickup and delivery options. Farmstand hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 12 pm – 6 pm and they offer extended hours during planting season (May 2nd – June 14th) 10 am – 3pm. While visiting the farmstand, you’ll find New Leaf’s fresh-picked veggies, berries, and flowers and you will also find locally sourced products from around the Champlain Valley. New to the farmstand are delicious grab-and-go vegetarian meals from Blossom Kitchen and Catering in eco-friendly reusable containers you can keep or return for a deposit.

You can also sign up for their fruit & veggie CSA. Joining the CSA is a great way to eat the freshest, highest quality, locally grown, organic food without breaking the bank. They have many unique CSA options, so be sure to check out their web page to scan the offerings.

Looking to send a local, organic bouquet to someone special? New Leaf Organics offers Home Sweet Blooms floral deliveries to homes and businesses in Hinesburg, Vergennes, Middlebury, & Bristol! They also offer a pick-your-own flowers option throughout the growing season. The flower fields are located across the street from the farm stand.

Need flowers for an upcoming wedding or event? New Leaf Organics raises over 100 varieties of organic, specialty cut flowers and creates exquisite floral arrangements for weddings and events, from casual to formal. Their services, from full-service arrangements and delivery, to “pick-your-own,” to “weddings-in-a-bucket” are a great fit for all your events. Buying direct from the grower ensures the freshest, highest quality flowers at the best price. Buying organic ensures that agricultural chemicals aren’t endangering our environment or the farmworkers who handle the flowers. Click here to read more about why this matters.

According to Farmer Jill, “I’ve been lucky enough to find a dedicated crew of farming “geeks” who get equally as excited about discovering a great new variety to try or the thrill of our first seeds germinating in the Spring. Having a great crew keeps the farm dynamic and is better every season because of them. My kids, Ruby and Ada, and husband Skimmer make sure we don’t work the whole Summer away… Thanks for your interest in our farm! Supporting local farms like ours ensures that high-quality agricultural soils will be kept in farming for generations to come and proof that together we really can keep Vermont agriculture alive and thriving!”

For the latest info and insight into how the season is sprouting, blooming, and unfurling, follow them on Instagram @organicsnewleaf and Facebook @newleaforganics

May 22, 2020

Co-op Connection Businesses Re-open!

Owning a small, independent business in the era of mega-stores and online retail giants is daunting during the best of times. The addition of state-wide closure mandates and stay home, stay safe orders made necessary by the global pandemic presented local small business owners with a new set of challenges they could not possibly have planned for. And yet, despite all of the hurdles, our beloved local businesses have rallied! We’ve marveled at the creative ways that many have adeptly pivoted their business plans to accommodate a rapidly changing set of circumstances. We’ve held our breath hoping that those who were unable to shift to online retail due to the nature of their services would be able to endure lengthy closures. And we’ve been heartened to see the many ways that this community has continued to support their favorite local brick-and-mortar stores, despite the challenges.

Moments like these remind us that this community is truly special and make us want to shout from the rooftops as these resilient local businesses begin to re-open their doors. Of course, the caveat is that they must re-open in a way that continues to prioritize community health and safety, so please remember your masks, stay home if you’re sick, observe all social distancing protocols, and take note of posted procedural changes at each place of business. It will take all of us doing our part to make this re-opening of our community businesses successful.

The Co-op is proud to partner with 20 other local businesses in town through the Co-op Connection and we’ve been particularly excited to see many of them begin to re-open their doors. There are many who provide close-contact services that will require them to remain closed for a while, but there are still ways to support these folks. We’d love to take a moment to celebrate these 20 businesses that make our downtown such a vibrant place and highlight their current offerings. Please note that these hours and conditions are subject to change. Please call ahead or click each business link below to view their web page for the most up-to-date information. This list was last updated on 6.2.20:

County Tire Center – Open! Visit Monday – Friday between 8 and 5 for all of your tire, auto, and hybrid/electric vehicle needs. Rest assured they can assist you in a safe and socially-distant manner — they continue to take all precautions to keep the community and their employees safe. Call ahead to schedule your appointment, then call them when you arrive. Make your payment by phone or through their walk-up window.
Danforth Pewter – Open at their Seymour Street location! Drop by (with your mask) and pick up some gifts for the graduates in your life or treat yourself to something special. They’re open Monday – Saturday 10-5 and Sunday from 11-4. Limit 10 customers at a time to allow for proper social distancing. Drop in and show them your support!
Green Peppers Restaurant – Open for curbside pickup until 7 pm daily! Order and payment by phone, schedule your preferred pick-up time, retrieve your order at the scheduled time at their outdoor pick-up station located at the front entrance. From Mark and the rest of the Green Peppers crew: “We thank you all so much for supporting us during this time. You are warming our hearts with your generosity! We will continue to be here to warm your bellies with yummy food!”
Honey Holistic Esthetics – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Honey Holistic Esthetics, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one.
Juice Amour -Their Middlebury location is offering online ordering, orders by phone, curbside pickup, and free daily delivery on orders of $25 or more to Middlebury, Bristol, Vergennes, Lincoln, and Monkton! Order online (choose “shipping” option for delivery) or give them a call at (802) 989-7271. Choose from fresh-pressed organic juices, salads, tacos, meal kits, healthy treats, and more!
Jumelles Wellness Midwifery – Due to the very essential nature of this business, this family-centered practice remains open for telehealth and home visits. Visit them on the web to schedule a consult for home birth midwifery care, doula services, lactation counseling, and childbirth education.
Kiss the Cook – The Middlebury location is open for curbside pickup Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11-2 to help equip all of your newfound pandemic culinary prowess. Call (802) 923-6143 to place an order. Gift cards may be purchased online.
Main Street Stationery – Open for phone orders and curbside pickup to meet your needs. Many of us are now working and schooling from home, so whether it’s homeschooling supplies, home office supplies, or all of the essentials to restock your arts and crafts collections, call (802) 388-6787 to place your order and arrange pickup.
Maple Landmark Woodcraft – Their retail showroom is now open Monday – Friday from 8-5 and Saturday from 9-4. Masks are required and they must limit the number of patrons to 4 at a time. Martha Rainville says “We look forward to seeing your smiling (masked) faces soon! If you’d prefer not to come in, we are always happy to ship (order online) or do curbside pick-up!”
Middlebury Fitness – As of June 1st, Middlebury Fitness is open! They have adapted the facility so that it now exceeds the CDC and Vermont Health Dept. safety guidelines. They are eager to welcome back old members and welcome new members as they continue to serve our community as we all navigate these challenging times. You can read more information about their reopening here: http://www.middleburyfitness.com/reopening.html.
Middlebury Sweets – Open for online orders, curbside pickup, and limited local delivery! Satisfy your sweet tooth and support this fun local business by ordering online or calling call 802-388-4518 between 10 am – 2 pm.
Natural Medicine of Vermont – Due to the essential nature of her work, Dr. Miller-Lane remains open and is scheduling telemedicine appointments until Monday, June 1. Please call 388-6250 to schedule a telemedicine visit by phone or email karri@naturalmedicineofvermont.com. Dr. Miller-Lane says, “Be well, stay safe and we look forward to supporting you in whatever way we are able.”
Otter Creek Used Books – Open! Did you read every book in your house during quarantine? Otter Creek Used books is ready to help you refresh your library! Visit Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and please observe all posted guidelines for safe browsing.
Otter Creek Yoga – Due to the close-contact nature of the classes provided at Otter Creek Yoga, the studio will remain closed until further notice. However, you may join Joanna Colwell for virtual classes via Zoom on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 am or subscribe to her youtube channel to enjoy a class when the time is right for you. It’s a perfect way to recenter yourself and counter the stress of these unprecedented times. Your support is critical during this lengthy closure, so if you’re enjoying the virtual classes, please consider making a donation or purchasing a gift card via the links on their webpage.
Pro Skin Studio – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Pro Skin Studio, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one.
Stone Leaf Teahouse – Open for online orders and local pickup. What better way to de-stress than with a fresh, hot cup of tea? Order online and pick your tea up Monday – Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. They have many new fresh teas from the Spring 2020 harvest for you to try and a fascinating new blog post to read while you enjoy your freshly brewed cup!
Shafer’s Market & Deli – Open 7 days a week for curbside pickup or delivery to Weybridge, Cornwall, Middlebury, and East Middlebury. The ice cream window is open, too! Hours are Sunday – Tuesday 7 am – 5 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 7 am – 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 7 am -9 pm. Call 388-6408 to place your order today!
Texture Salon – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Texture Salon, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one.
Vermont Sun Fitness Center – Will open at 6:00 am Wednesday, June 3rd! Hours will be Monday thru Friday 6 am-8 pm, Saturday & Sunday 7:30 am-4 pm. This also includes the pool. They hope to begin a limited class schedule as early as the week of June 8th. They’ve been working hard to ensure their facility exceeds the CDC and Vermont Health Department safety guidelines. Please wear your mask and follow all posted safety procedures. To learn more about their safety protocols, click here.
Waterfalls Day Spa – Due to the close-contact nature of the services provided at Waterfalls Day Spa, they must remain closed until further notice. However, if you’d like to show your support for this business, please consider ordering a gift card for yourself or a loved one.

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March 26, 2020

Spotlight on Butterworks Farm

Butterworks Farm is basking in the glow of the Member Deals Spotlight this week and all of their local, organic, grass-fed dairy products are 20% off for member-owners from March 26th – April 1st. Read on to learn more about this local farm worked by three generations of the Lazor Family over forty–six years to bring you high-quality products with a deep emphasis on regenerative practices that promote soil building, carbon sinking, water retention, and biodiversity:

Over forty years ago, Jack and Anne Lazor came to Westfield, VT fresh out of college with degrees in Agricultural History (Jack) and Anthropology (Anne). As long-time sustainable farmers and leaders in organic farming, they continue to play an important role in the dynamics and operations at Butterworks and beyond. Jack is a writer and frequent inspirational keynote speaker at organic farming conferences everywhere. He enjoys food, friends and pursuing his passions- sustainability and soil science. Anne keeps Jack and the farm running as Jack’s home dialysis technician and a caring presence for the entire team. She enjoys gardening, keeping chickens and ducks, the study of homeopathic medicine and upholds the homesteading spirit she and Jack started with 40 years ago. Their daughter Christine Lazor grew up at Butterworks and now has a family of her own. A deep love for the team, the farm, the animals, the products and the mountains keep her inspired as she and her family carry on the rich farming traditions that her parents began.

Their cows are a herd of very friendly and sometimes precocious Jerseys. Each has her own name and stanchion in the barn during milking. They choose Jerseys for their ability to produce milk on a 100% grass-fed diet. High fiber and mineral-rich grasses, legumes, and forages are available to the cows always in the lush, rotationally grazed pastures of summer and the sweet hay in the winter solar barn.

Their farming methods have evolved over the years. For the first forty years, they were grain growers and hay producers. Cereal crops such as oats, wheat, and barley, along with row crops like corn and soy fit neatly into their crop rotations with grasses and legumes. From the straw for the animals bedding to the grain the cows ate, everything was grown on the farm. Over the years, as their soil health and fertility increased, the quality of their forages improved until they realized that they could likely reduce the amount of grain that was being fed to the cows. By 2016, they had phased out grains completely and became a 100% grass-fed dairy, rotating the cows on fresh pasture every twelve hours.

Jack Lazor shared on the Butterwork’s Farm blog that, “our transition to 100% grass-fed is well worth it. Despite the fact that we will need more land and sharpened management skills to do this, we are very happy to promote more grass and less grain (and subsequently less tillage) on the land that we steward. More grass means more fibrous root systems in the soil. Less grain means less tillage and better soil health. Less tillage means less burning of fossil fuels and less disturbance to the delicate balance of microorganisms in our soils.

“Our primary goal in farming is to take more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and through photosynthesis, lock it up in the Earth’s crust as humus and organic matter. Higher carbon levels in the soil are the number one weapon that we as humans have to reduce and eliminate the effects of a changing climate. We are excited to be trying something challenging and new. Our farming practices were already focused on mineralization and soil health which has built a vibrant farm organism. Our switch to 100% grass-fed dairying is taking us to new levels. It is incredibly hard work, but so much fun and what we are learning we want to share with others in the process.”

March 5, 2020

Spotlight on Klinger’s Bread Company

Our Member Deals Spotlight shines brightly on Klinger’s Bread Company! From March 5th – 11th, member-owners can enjoy 20% off their full line of local fresh-baked artisan bread! Read on to learn more about this Burlington-based bakery and their time-honored baking traditions:

Rustic, Healthy, Hearty, Crusty, Chewy, Flavorful…
Just a few words overheard to describe the artisan breads of Klinger’s. Their hearth-baked breads were proudly brought to Vermont in 1993 by the Klingebiel families of Williston, Vermont and Salem, New York.

These flavorful, authentic European breads were developed by one of America’s premier artisan bakers. Their bakers have been thoroughly trained in the methods and subtleties of bread baking. The breads are made from starters which are allowed to develop over a thirty-hour period. Visit the bakery and watch their bread crafters at work. Amidst floured tables, you will see them mix the finest ingredients, hand shape loaves, and bake them with care in their French brick oven.

Klinger’s is proud to bring you the rustic, homemade taste of their signature artisan breads. Their goal is to produce breads with character and integrity, to make your mouth water with the aroma of loaves fresh from the oven, and to share the products of their labor with you again and again.

Baked Stuffed Apples

This simple, comforting dish makes a perfect Vermont Sugaring Season breakfast. You can also opt to swap out the yogurt with a scoop of ice cream or creme fraiche for a decadent dessert. Many of the ingredients are featured in our weekly sale from March 5th – 11th, so it’s a perfect time to give this recipe a try!

February 13, 2020

Spotlight on Champlain Valley Apiaries

We’re shining this week’s Member Deals Spotlight on a local business that’s been providing local honey to the Co-op since the very beginning – over 40 years ago. In fact, Champlain Valley Apiaries was founded long before the Co-op existed, way back in 1931, and they’ve been producing pristine, delicious Vermont honey ever since! From February 13th – 19th, member-owners can enjoy 20% off their full line of gooey golden goodness. Read on to learn more about this wonderful local business and their commitment to environmental stewardship:

Champlain Valley Apiaries is a 3rd generation Vermont family-owned business. Founded in 1931 by innovative beekeeper Charles Mraz, they have been producing delicious Vermont honey for over 85 years. Their mission, along with producing the highest quality honey, is to foster sustainable agriculture and bring awareness to the essential role of honeybees in our food system. They are committed to protecting all pollinators, the environment, the well being of their employees, and the local community where they live and work.

They also continually assess and modify business operations so as to lessen their impact on the environment by increasing operational efficiency, conserving energy, water, and other natural resources, reducing waste generation, and eliminating the use of harmful materials. Champlain Valley Apiaries is committed to a triple bottom line, not only valuing profit but seeking environmental excellence and social awareness within their company culture.

The folks at Champlain Valley Apiaries describe their honey as a floral snapshot of a particular area at a given time. Bees gather nectar from a variety of floral sources, depending on the time of year. Sources include things like clover, alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, various trees, dandelions, and goldenrod, to name a few. For this reason, the exact makeup of their honey will vary from year to year and even from bee yard to bee yard. In order to keep a consistent product, they blend their Vermont honey with other premium honey produced in the U.S. and Canada.

They treat their bees organically and, during the winter, hives are left with enough of their own honey to survive and thrive. Throughout the company’s history, they have earned a reputation among beekeepers for producing a hardy strain of honeybee that is disease-resistant and able to thrive in the harsh Vermont winter. Owner Chas reflected on their 2019 season in a recent Champlain Valley Apiaries blog post. In his post, he references the flurry of media attention given to the large quantities of adulterated honey on grocery store shelves and reminds consumers of the importance of purchasing honey from local producers whose practices you can verify and trust. Chas assures that, “you will never get anything but the best and 100% pure honey from us at Champlain Valley Apiaries. Our commitment to our product goes back three generations and 88 years and will never be compromised.”

January 31, 2020

Spotlight on Grafton Village Cheese

Our Member Deals Spotlight shines brightly this week on Grafton Village Cheese. All of their local, award-winning cheeses are 20% off for member-owners from February 6th – 12th, so it’s a perfect time to stock up on your favorites. Read on to learn more about this unique mission-driven creamery with a rich local history:

History

The Grafton Cooperative Cheese Company was originally founded in 1892 by dairy farmers who gathered together in a cooperative to make their surplus raw milk into cheese. In the days before refrigeration, there were many such cooperatives in the rural agricultural communities of Vermont and an abundance of fresh, creamy milk was turned into a food that could be stored for a longer period of time. A devastating fire destroyed the original factory in 1912, pressing a decades-long pause on the cheesemaking operation. Thankfully, in the mid-1960s the nonprofit Windham Foundation restored the company in an effort to breathe new life into Grafton’s agricultural economy. Their traditions have endured over the years and they remain committed to making their cheese by hand using premium raw milk from small, local family farms.

Cheese on a Mission

Grafton Village Cheese remains a mission-driven Windham Foundation-owned enterprise, supporting Vermont’s rural communities through grants, programs, and social enterprises. When you purchase Grafton Village Cheese, you’re not only supporting the local family farms that produce the milk and the 60 plus employees at Grafton cheese, but you’re also supporting educational initiatives like the Kindle Farm School, dedicated to serving students with a variety of emotional, behavioral, neurological and learning needs; you’re supporting grants that fuel farm to school efforts by Food Connects; and you’re supporting the preservation of a historic homestead owned by Alec Turner, who was an escaped slave who settled in Grafton in 1872, as part of Vermont’s African Ameican Heritage Trail. Now that’s cheese on a mission!

Visit

In addition to their production facility in Grafton, the Foundation operates a manufacturing plant and cheese store in Brattleboro, Vermont, where visitors can watch the cheddar being made and sample a wide variety of Vermont cheeses. If you’re traveling through the Brattleboro area, this is a must-see!

Homemade Pizza

Making pizza at home might seem intimidating – especially compared to the relative ease of popping a pre-made frozen pie into the oven, but we think you’ll agree that nothing tastes better than homemade and the process is actually quite simple. PaneBelle’s organic pizza dough is featured in our weekly sale from January 16th – 22nd, along with local Maplebrook fresh mozzarella, local Bove’s pizza sauce, and a handful of perfect pizza toppings, so it’s an excellent time to try your hand at homemade pizza! Feel free to get creative with the toppings. This recipe makes 2 thin-crust 12” pizzas. If you prefer a thicker crust, follow the same instructions but create one larger pizza.

Order Overview

Local