(Jay, VT)- Jay Peak this weekend will host the annual meeting of the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture. NEASDA, as it is known, is comprised of 11 northeast states: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Each state will be sending its Secretary or Commissioner of Agriculture to the meeting being held June 5-7 at the resort. Both Vermont’s governor and lieutenant governor are scheduled to be on hand Sunday to welcome the visiting dignitaries.
NEASDA is part of the larger National Association of State Departments of Agriculture whose mission it is to represent the states’ departments of agriculture in the development, implementation, and communication of sound public policy and programs. The organizations work to support and promote the American agricultural industry while protecting consumers and the environment. This is the first time in close to a dozen years that the annual summit has been held in Vermont.
“Jay Peak is the perfect venue for the annual NEASDA meeting," said Chuck Ross, Vermont's Secretary of Agriculture. "For years the resort has offered weekly tours to a local dairy and maple farm as part of its events lineup to guests, and (resort president) Bill Stenger knows that partnerships across sectors and valuing our working landscape can lead to a successful enterprise."
The agricultural industry is a huge part of the Vermont economy. In 2008, the total market value of agricultural products sold was $673,713,000. The state is ranked #1 for progressive agriculture, organic farming, and CSAs according to AgDevOnline, the companion website to Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. In March of this year, Farm Stay US named Vermont as one of the top three states in the country for farm travel and tourism. The value in 2008 of agri-tourism and its associated recreational services was $1.5 million.
“Agriculture has always been a way of life in the Northeast Kingdom (of Vermont),” remarked resort president Bill Stenger. “At Jay Peak, we’ve tried to shine a light on that community’s contribution, whether it’s through our weekly tours of the Couture Farm (of Westfield) or our twenty-three years strong Farmers’ Appreciation Day, where any Vermont Farmer gets to ski for free.”
The three-day summit is expected to draw agricultural leaders from New England and the mid Atlantic states. One of the goals is to provide a forum for leaders to network and leverage collective resources to help stimulate critical discussions on issues ranging from dairy policy and the 2012 Farm Bill, to best practices for improving water quality and marketing state and regional brands.
For the most up-to-date information on Jay Peak, visit jaypeakresort.com.
NEASDA is part of the larger National Association of State Departments of Agriculture whose mission it is to represent the states’ departments of agriculture in the development, implementation, and communication of sound public policy and programs. The organizations work to support and promote the American agricultural industry while protecting consumers and the environment. This is the first time in close to a dozen years that the annual summit has been held in Vermont.
“Jay Peak is the perfect venue for the annual NEASDA meeting," said Chuck Ross, Vermont's Secretary of Agriculture. "For years the resort has offered weekly tours to a local dairy and maple farm as part of its events lineup to guests, and (resort president) Bill Stenger knows that partnerships across sectors and valuing our working landscape can lead to a successful enterprise."
The agricultural industry is a huge part of the Vermont economy. In 2008, the total market value of agricultural products sold was $673,713,000. The state is ranked #1 for progressive agriculture, organic farming, and CSAs according to AgDevOnline, the companion website to Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. In March of this year, Farm Stay US named Vermont as one of the top three states in the country for farm travel and tourism. The value in 2008 of agri-tourism and its associated recreational services was $1.5 million.
“Agriculture has always been a way of life in the Northeast Kingdom (of Vermont),” remarked resort president Bill Stenger. “At Jay Peak, we’ve tried to shine a light on that community’s contribution, whether it’s through our weekly tours of the Couture Farm (of Westfield) or our twenty-three years strong Farmers’ Appreciation Day, where any Vermont Farmer gets to ski for free.”
The three-day summit is expected to draw agricultural leaders from New England and the mid Atlantic states. One of the goals is to provide a forum for leaders to network and leverage collective resources to help stimulate critical discussions on issues ranging from dairy policy and the 2012 Farm Bill, to best practices for improving water quality and marketing state and regional brands.
For the most up-to-date information on Jay Peak, visit jaypeakresort.com.