By Trevor Lowell, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The Eastern States Exposition, known as the Big E, one of the country’s largest fairs, takes place every year in West Springfield, Massachusetts from mid-September to early October. The 2023 fair saw close to 1.5 million people come through the gates over 17 days. As the nation’s only multi-state fair, Vermont was well represented, with over 30 Vermont businesses selling their products at the Vermont Building, a public market style building located along the fair’s Avenue of the States. Everything from Vermont staples like cheese, maple, and craft beer, to honey, wool, chocolate, and poutine was on offer. The Vermont Building provides a little slice of the Green Mountain State for fairgoers from all over the region. It also provides an incredible opportunity for Vermont businesses to get their quality products in front of millions of customers. The Agency is proud to manage the Vermont Building and to support the numerous food, forestry and agricultural businesses that vend there during the Big E.
