2000 Annual Report for FNE00-340
Northern meat breeders cooperative plan.
Summary
Since January 2000, a group of northern Vermont farmers and supporters have been meeting to develop Pride of Vermont Farms. Pride of Vermont Farms is planned to become a farmers owned and run business while develops and markets meat and value-added meat products for members.
In March 2000, Pride of Vermont Farms (PVF) held it's first general membership meeting for potential participants and interested parties.
Nancy Wasserman, Sleeping Lion Associates, Inc., met with PVF members to discuss potential business structures for PVF. With Nancy's assistance and continued research, it is believed PVF will apply for LLC business structure. PVF is currently identifying legal council for this procedure. Nancy also highlighted the need for marketing research and financial analysis of this program.
Pride of Vermont Farms group members have met with representative from Vermont Food Venture Center, New England Culinary Institute, Merck Foundation, Sustainable Jobs Fund, Small Ruminant Dairy Specialist, and Slow Food Network to develop value-added meat products. Pride of Vermont Farms has recently been awarded a grant from Sustainable Jobs Fund to produce two types of sausage while will be given as samples to potential customers such as restaurants and market. One batch of this sausage has been made with lamb, kid, and beef from Pride of Vermont Farms members' farms.
Cindy Metayer and Theresa Lawyer