This August, we are celebrating local. When you walk into the store, it is plain to see the abundance of fresh, local produce this time of year. In particular, stone fruit season is upon us, and we have local peaches and nectarines on sale from Champlain Orchards and Scott Farm Orchard plums.

Delving deeper, we can’t forget about our numerous other local vendors, who are a foundational part of our co-op’s identity. Annually, we purchase over $9 million in products and services from Vermont vendors and sell over $11 million in local products.* This equaled almost 40% of our sales in our 2023 fiscal year.*

We also donated to and sponsored local events and organizations that enrich our community and align with our mission, totaling $91,187 in the 2023 fiscal year. The summer floods have been hard on our little community over the last two years, but our community’s strength and resourcefulness have prevailed in these times of need. Right now, Nature Mandala Art is donating 100% of the proceeds from their Vermont Strong artwork to local flood relief efforts, which the Co-op is matching for up to $200. Thank you, Nature Mandala Art, for your kind contributions to our community.

During August, several of our local vendors are featured in our Flex Area at the center of the store. Check out these fascinating tidbits about some of your favorite local vendors:

Did you know Butterfly Bakery of Vermont is the world’s largest user of Vermont-grown chili peppers? All the peppers for their hot sauces are grown within 200 miles of their Barre facility.

Did you know that Bon Temps Gourmet doubles as West Worcester Woodfired Pizza? Enjoy hand-tossed pizza made with many local ingredients in their beautiful gardens for a lovely outing.

Ecobean started as a cafe in S. Burlington when owners Justin and Trisha sought to balance a busy lifestyle with eating well. Now, you can have their best-selling dressings at home. Use them on salads, as a marinade, or as a dip!

Small Oven Pastries is woman-owned and focused on local. Founder Elizabeth Berman sources from over 50 local farms and producers to create her confections. Delicious on many levels!

Did you know that an herb’s qualities can vary depending on when it is harvested? Lakon Herbals has been paying attention to these details for over 30 years.

Did you know Patrick Giantonio had walked across Africa before starting Patrick’s Artisan Bakery? He worked with UNICEF, African Ministries of Health, and local nonprofits to develop and share health information resources in some of the poorest places on Earth.

Fable Farm, located in Barnard, VT, creates living wines from local ecology and is committed to native yeast fermentation, allowing the wines to reflect their locale.

Roots of Comfort, located in Moretown, VT, began after owner Juliana Westcott took a DIY herbal body care workshop and perfected her own recipes using locally grown and wildcrafted herbs.

Mama Tree Farm, located in Worcester, VT, began when owner Amy Brooks discovered her gluten intolerance. She then embarked on a journey to create delicious and nutritious gluten-free baking mixes enjoyed by everyone, whether gluten intolerant or not.

Urban Moonshine, located in Burlington, VT, is now back in the hands of the original Urban Moonshine team. After ending a five-year partnership, they are re-establishing their roots in Vermont.

Champlain Orchards is located in Shoreham, VT. Motivated by a dream to live sustainably, Bill Suhr started Champlain Orchards in 1997. It is now a testament to sustainable agricultural success with over 220 acres and 115 varieties of apples.

Baird Farm in Chittenden, VT, is a 560-acre family farm that has been in the Baird family for four generations. Bonnie and Bob Baird own and operate the farm, while their daughter and her partner run the maple syrup business, their primary focus since 1996.

* We define local as anything grown or has value-added in Vermont or within 100 miles of our co-op.

*The 2023 fiscal year ran from July 4, 2022, to July 2, 2023. For more information, see the 2023 Impact Report. Our 2024 Impact Report will be available in November.