Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Does my business qualify for a free listing?
- What is the Valley Food & Farm Service Area?
- I’m confused and just can’t figure something out. What should I do?
- What’s new this year?
- What do I do if I have more than one business?
- How do I list my Winter Farmers Market?
- What do I do if my product is not in this list?
- How do I list my CSA crops?
- How can I add a picture with my business description?
- How do I get additional advertising with my listing?
- What if my business does not grow or process any of the items listed here? For example, what if I own a restaurant or store?
- What if my farm raises something that doesn't fit into any of the categories?
- When will my updated listing appear in the online guide?
- Am I a processing facility?
- Can I use the word organic to describe my farm?
- What do you mean by "Agriculture Group"?
- What about the print Valley Food & Farm Guide?
- What do I do if I don't want customers to have my email address?
Q: Does my business qualify for a free listing?
A: 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.
Q:What is the Valley Food & Farm Service Area?
A:The greater upper valley region. See map for towns.
Q: I’m confused and just can’t figure something out. What should I do?
A: First read the FAQ and see if your question is here. If not, call Debbie with questions at 802-291-9100 ext. 112, or email at debbie@vitalcommunities.org
Q: What’s new this year, for the 2011 guide?
- We have shortened sections of our sign up fields.
- We've added a section for farms that sell to schools.
- We're asking you for more targeted information so we can better promote your business.
Q: What do I do if I have more than one business?
A: 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?
A: Do two separate business listings if you have both a summertime farmers’ market and a winter farmers’ market. Be sure to check Winter Farmers Market on the top of the 2nd screen.
Q: How do I list my CSA crops?
A: You do not need to mark your crops individually if they are only available from you CSA. Do list crops if people can buy them in other ways.
Q: What do I do if my product is not in this list?
A: 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.
Q: How can I add a picture with my business description?
A: We welcome submissions of one picture of your business for our online guide. Email your picture to webmaster@vitalcommunities.org or send a cd to Deb Jones, Valley Food & Farm, 195 North Main Street, White River Jct. VT 05001.
Q: How do I get additional advertising with my listing?
A: Click here for information about further promoting your business on the online Valley Food & Farm Guide.
Q: What if my business does not grow or process any of the items listed here? For example, what if I own a restaurant or store?
A: First, read our “Do You Qualify?” to see if your business is eligible for a free listing in our Valley Food & Farm Guide. If you are eligible, look at the first page where it says: Are you a farm, farmers’ market, or grocer, restaurant, other. Put a check mark in the grocer, restaurant, other category of the sign-up form. You can describe your involvement with local food in the business summary section. We welcome lots of businesses other than farms to list.
Q: What if my farm raises something that doesn't fit into any of the categories?
A: If one of your farm's products really does not fit into another category, you can write it into the space near the bottom of the page for all other products. Also, in your 50 word description you are free to add any important details about your business that the categories did not make clear.
Q:When will my updated listing appear in the online guide?
A: 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.
A: 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)
Q:Can I use the word organic to describe my farm?
A: 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 http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm for NH organic certification.
Q:What is a "Agriculture 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 take part in local food education initiatives such as Farm2School, 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.
Q:What about the print Valley Food & Farm Guide?
This year we're focusing on the online Guide and will not be publishing a print version. The information in our online Guide can be kept up to date more readily. Feel free to edit your listing as needed during the year. You can also check the Valley Food & Farmanac for articles about local food and agriculture posted throughout the year.
Q:What do I do if I don't want customers to have my email address?
A: Enter the email address that Vital Communities/Valley Food & Farm should use to contact you in the field "Email for VFF ONLY to contact you." This information will not show up in the online Guide, but we will use it to contact you about for Guide renewals and updates.