Farms welcome the public to dig into Vermont’s agricultural economy
August 2, 2023 | Montpelier, VT – For the ninth consecutive year, farmers across Vermont will once again open their barn doors and garden gates to welcome the public for a behind the-scenes look at Vermont’s vibrant working landscapes. After a challenging few weeks around the state, many Vermont farms look forward to welcoming visitors in support of Vermont’s agricultural community. Vermont Open Farm Week 2023 will be held Sunday, Aug.6 through Sunday, Aug. 13th , and feature 173 events at over 49 farms across the state. These events can be found online and sorted by day and location at DigInVT.com.
This week-long celebration of Vermont farms offers visitors a backstage pass to learn more about local food origins, authentic agritourism experiences, and the chance to build relationships with local farmers. Farm visitors can look forward to maple and honey tastings, yoga on the farm, ice cream socials, behind-the-scenes tours, on-farm dinners, 5k races, concerts and so much more! Each Open Farm Week event is created by a farmer and focused on highlighting the unique character of the host farm.
Below are a few highlights for the 2023 schedule:
- The 2nd Annual Great North American Maple Pie Contest at Baird Farm, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2 p.m., Chittenden
- Chef Dinner and Farm Tour at Valley Dream Farm, Aug. 8, 5 p.m. Cambridge
- Tomato Trot 5K at Cate Farm, Saturday, Aug. 12, 5 p.m., Plainfield
Open Farm Week events are live online! Many events are free and some require pre-registration. Not all farms are open every day, so be sure to visit DigInVT.com to explore the diverse event schedule and plan a visit. Everyone is invited to join the Open Farm Week conversation on social media using the hashtag #VTOpenFarm. Because of the recent flooding, some roads are still damaged and under repair. Please use 511 to check road conditions if traveling around the state.
With the recent flooding across Vermont, we know there are challenges and uncertainty facing many. We hope that this opportunity to gather and lift spirits can be part of the recovery process for our farmers and community.
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About Open Farm Week - Open Farm Week is a collaborative statewide agritourism project organized by members of the Vermont Farm to Plate Network including DigInVT.com, Shelburne Farms and Farm‐Based Education, NOFA‐VT, University of Vermont Extension, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Vermont Fresh Network, and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. DigInVT.com is an online agritourism platform, run Vermont Fresh Network, and virtual home to Open Farm Week.
Contact: Tara Pereira - Executive Director | Vermont Fresh Network & DigInVT.com | 802-999-6137 cell | vtopenfarm@vermontfresh.net