Vital Communities Guide

Find Open Local Businesses and Farms. Search the Vital Communities Guide.

Start your search in the first drop-down menu. As you choose categories, new drop-down menus will appear, and you will be able to refine your search. Or, start with these popular quick searches:

Farmers' Markets

Open During Pandemic

Pick Your Own

Local First Businesses

CSA delivery locations

All farms

Keep your dollars where your heart is and support the businesses that are rooted here. Buy local. Eat local. Be local. Love local.

Our Pandemic Resources & Info Page

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Upper Valley Businesses can sign up or update their free Guide listing any time.

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Frequently Asked Questions for Business Listings

Does my business qualify for a free listing?

If your farm is within the towns covered by our map you are welcome to a free listing here.

If your restaurant, grocery, cafe/deli,catering,processing, farmers’ market, distributorship or specialty food production:

is within the towns covered by our map AND regularly offers local farm products for sale
OR is a processor located outside the map area, but regularly use agricultural products from farmers within our map area.
(for example, many farmers in our area ship milk to Agri-Mark for use in Cabot products, so Cabot may have a listing, even though Cabot’s offices are outside the area).

Then you are welcome to a free listing here.

What is the Valley Food & Farm Service Area?

The greater upper valley region. See map for towns.

I’m confused and just can’t figure something out. What should I do?

First read the FAQ and see if your question is here. If not, call Nancy with questions at 802-291-9100 ext. 106, or email at Nancy@VitalCommunities.org

What do I do if I have more than one business?

Only fill out more than one listing if you file taxes for more than one business. Two listings would mean you have two business names.

How do I list my Winter Farmers Market?

Do two separate business listings if you have both a summertime farmers market and a winter farmers market. Be sure to check Winter when asked about the season.

What do I do if my product is not in this list?

If your product fits into one of the categories listed, mark “other” for that category (for example, Other Poultry) and in the description field tell us what other poultry you have available. If the product does not fit into any of the categories, simply type the product name into the provided box near the bottom of the page.

When will my updated listing appear in the Guide?

Your listing will appear in the online Valley Food & Farm Guide within days of when you entered it. Our staff will activate these changes as soon as feasible and will notify you by email/mail once the changes are available to view on this website. You will be listed year round on our website and you may update your listing at any time.

Am I a processing facility?

Check Processing Facility if you are an established facility that processes ingredients, grown or raised in VT or NH, in large quantities. (e.g. cheese maker, commercial kitchen, cider press, wine maker)

Can I use the word "organic" to describe my farm?

You can only use “organic” to describe your farm if you have been certified as an organic farm or if you make less than $5000 in gross sales. See http://www.nofavt.org/orgcert.php for a description of VT organic certification and http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm for NH organic certification.

What is an "Food Systems Group"?

This is an organization that does not fall into the categories of farm, farmer’s market, grocer, or restaurant, whose activities are related to agriculture, local foods, or sustainability in the region. Examples would be organizations that run community gardens, provide resources for farmers, participate in food relief activities, deal with political and legal issues related to agriculture and land preservation, and so forth.

Vital Communities Program News

Climate Partners Summit Resources

Climate Partners Summit Resources On February 25, 2021, over 70 interested partners and citizens joined the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup (UVAW) for a virtual Climate Partners Summit, featuring brief presentation from a variety of organizations working ...more

Local Investment Inspiration & Resources

An "investment" always concerns the outlay of some asset today (time, money, effort, etc.) in hopes of a greater payoff in the future than what was originally put in. Where you choose to invest your ...more

Digital Marketing Assistance for New Hampshire Businesses & Farms

Digital Marketing Assistance for New Hampshire Businesses & Farms Could your business benefit from professional consulting services to improve your marketing? With Rural Development funding, Vital Communities' Local First is hosting a free marketing workshop AND providing ...more

Climate Partners Summit February 25

Climate change has the potential to affect everyone on the planet and virtually every aspect of our lives, including here in the Upper Valley. The good news is that many throughout the Upper Valley are working ...more

The 2021 Climate Change Leadership Academy is Recruiting!

Combatting climate change depends not just on major national and global policy, but also on action within our local community. Promoting citizen-driven, community-level action is the goal of the Climate Change Leadership Academy (2CLA), which is ...more

Quest to the Star!

Have you seen the star alight upon Mt. Tom in Woodstock? Wouldn't it be fun to see it up close? You can if you follow the clues of the Mt. Tom Quest. The star traditionally ...more

Farm-Way gift cards, fat bikes, and YOU!

Whether you live in Vermont or New Hampshire, grab your bike, sneakers, or boots and join Vital Communities, Local Motion, and Go! Vermont for the 2021 Vermont Winter Bike/Walk Challenge, through February 12 (International Winter ...more

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Save Energy

This week marks the close of Vital Communities and volunteers’ 2020 Vermont Energy Savings project in seven towns in the Vermont side of the Upper Valley. Vital Communities partnered with Sustainable Woodstock (serving Woodstock, Hartland, ...more

Valley Quest Volunteer Monitors Needed

Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you enjoy bringing others outdoors and making their experience something special? Then you are a good candidate for monitoring one or more of our 160+ Valley Quests throughout the Upper ...more

Localvore Passport Webinar

Learn how Localvore Passport can help your business connect with customers at an informational webinar, Tuesday, January 12 or Wednesday, January 13! (Attend either event. The same information will be presented twice; Zoom link below). Vermont-based Localvore is ...more