On Sunday, Caroline Gordon & Graham Unangst-Rufenacht, Rural Vermont; Niaz Dorry, National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) and the Northwest Marine Alliance (NAMA) will present on advancing food sovereignty in Vermont. Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.”– Declaration of Nyéléni, the first global forum on food sovereignty, Mali, 2007
Food sovereignty is a global movement based in particular histories. Connected through a world-wide network, communities across the globe are working to realize and protect their food sovereignty through local ordinances as well as state and federal policies. Join the National Family Farm Coalition and Rural Vermont in this conversation about different efforts to support food sovereignty at the local, national, and global levels. This workshop will include some time in presentation - and some time in discussion: please bring questions, ideas, stories, and concerns.
On Sunday, February 16th from 1-2pm, Rural Vermont and NOFA-VT offers “Healthcare on the Farm” with Mollie Wills, Rural VT; Maddie Kempner, NOFA-VT
Rural VT and NOFA-VT are working in coalition on healthcare for farmers, and farms as a source of healthcare. There is a need to ensure fair healthcare not only in terms of medical treatment, but also in terms of supporting community-scale agriculture and equitable access to the preventative care of nutrient dense foods, clean water, thriving landscapes, and the healthy communities they produce. Come share your stories and join Rural VT and NOFA-VT to advocate for healthcare for farmers and by farmers
On Sunday February 16th during Session 2 from 2:15-3:30 pm, Rural Vermont offers an “On-Farm Processing Panel”.
Legislative Director Caroline Gordon facilitates a conversation with farmer representatives from around the state about their journey to the type of slaughter they specialize in. Voices representing the range of options for slaughter facilities for both poultry and four-legged animals will be present: a USDA inspected facility, custom slaughter facility, on-farm processing and mobile and itinerant slaughter. Panelists will share how and why they chose to specialize in their operation (inspected or otherwise), challenges they've faced and growth points within the industry. Recent improvements to the requirements from the on-farm slaughter of livestock will be discussed in the light of ongoing policy developments.
Rural Vermont will also have a booth, as we do every year. Look for us!
Discount Registration for Rural Vermont members! Members of Rural Vermont are invited to register for the Conference at the discounted rate of $70/day. To access your discount, use this special invitation link to register, and enter the code: NOFA-RV2020.
Not a Rural Vermont member? Register here.