VITAL COMMUNITIES
Upper Valley Businesses & Farms can sign up or update their free Guide listing any time.
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.
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
Vital Communities Program News
Vermont Everyone Eats Serves Its One-Millionth Meal!
On Thursday, April 29, Vermont Everyone Eats, an innovative COVID-19 response program, is celebrating 1 million restaurant meals served to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity. The program was launched in August 2020 with an allocation of ...more
Flavors of the Valley 2021: The Fun Goes Digital!
Flavors of the Valley, the Upper Valley's favorite local food tasting expo, will not be stopped this year! We're moving it to May, with a month-long digital celebration of spring, our local farms, local food, ...more
"Light River Junction" Kicks Off May 7 with "Toons and Tones"
https://youtu.be/1CHhlNDazVI The celebratory summer series Light River Junction First Fridays with WRIF kicks off May 7 with a fantastic line-up called "Toons and Tones." Throughout downtown White River, there will FREE outdoor arts to inspire and ...more
WAY TO GO! SPRING CHALLENGE
JOIN THE CHALLENGE MAY 1-16 AND BE ENTERED TO WIN PRIZES! Spring is here, so it’s a great time to Get Up and Go! Take the challenge to walk, bike, roll, bus, or carpool May 1 ...more
Launching Year 2 of the Upper Valley E-Bike Library!
Do you wish biking was part of your life? E-bikes can greatly increase that possibility. E-bikes (electric bikes) are like regular bikes but with an electric motor in addition to human-powered pedals, a battery to ...more
April 8: "Investing in Home Creation"
Investing for Home Creation Thursday, April 8, 5:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwM8Z2FD3Q The Upper Valley faces a shortage of housing, particularly in the lower-cost sector, that's affecting our ability to be a vibrant, equitable community. This session discussed how even ...more
April 15, 2021: “Putting Your Money to Work Locally: Investing Clubs 101”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnLZ7akjtGw Interested in investing locally but don’t want to do it alone? Investment clubs pool money to collectively invest in local businesses and bring a social aspect to the process – they make investment fun! In this ...more
Valley Quests Open May 1—including a Guided Event to a Vernal Pool!
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 1: It's a big one for Valley Quests! Not only is May 1 Opening Day for Quests—"treasure hunts" that share the natural and cultural history of 160+ special areas in ...more
Have an Idea That Could Use a Lift?
New Hampshire Businesses, Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Nonprofits, Community Initiatives: Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen? Want to grow your organization, our community, and the local economy, but don’t have access to capital? The Local Crowd ...more
Free Webinar on Writing Waterway Quests, April 8
Valley Quests are treasure hunts set in special locations around the Upper Valley. Each Quest follows a unique set of clues that teach you about a place’s ecology, wildlife, and history while leading to a ...more
NH Route 120 Improvements Near Exit 18
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has recently begun a project to study multi-modal improvements to NH Route 120 from Hanover Street to Etna Road in Lebanon, NH. This project (NHDOT reference #29612) seeks ...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
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
Weatherize Webinar, August 17
Weatherize Webinar with NHSaves Monday, August 17 at Noon Did Covid-19 stop your 2020 weatherization plans in their tracks? NOW is the right time to jump back on the weatherize band wagon. Lower energy bills and cozy ...more
Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers
Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s 14th graduating class, as 31 local leaders completed the 10-month program with a ...more
Five Inspiring Stories
On March 18, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley. Stories included: Electric charging stations in Bethel An Upper Valley eBike lending library Energy saving window ...more
Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead
Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more
Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more
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