NEK Grains is a new and upcoming business created by Shawn and Sara Gingue at the Gingue Family Farms in Waterford, VT. The business encompasses the growing, harvesting, processing and storage of wheat, barley, oats and soybeans for use in malting, baking, brewing and feed production in the region as well as custom seeding work and the sale of wheat berries and flour. NEK Grains will use their VFF Business Builder Loan to create a larger on-farm store to offer more retail products and to also house their 40" New American Stone Mill. They currently outsource all of their milling so by purchasing a mill they will be able to fill more orders, more efficiently.

Pitchfork Pickle makes vinegar brined and fermented vegetable pickles, krauts, kimchi and hot sauce using locally sourced Vermont produce. Owner Julia Irish worked at Pitchfork Farm and started The Pickle with Pitchfork Farm owners Eric Seitz and Rob Rock in 2019. Their goal was to use as much farm produce as possible to make seasonal, local pickles and ferments. Pitchfork Pickle will use their VFF Business Builder Loan to build out a walk-in cooler to provide cold storage for their prepared products as well as local produce waiting to be pickled.

Janine Ndagijimana from Janine Farm in Colchester grows more than 8 acres of African eggplant, as well as other specialty vegetables like amaranth, beans, corn, pumpkin leaves, and other greens. She sells to customers all over the country, as well as the VT Food Bank. Janine's VFF Business Builder loan will help her to purchase a cooler to store vegetables and keep them fresh.

Good Heart Farmstead is a VFF returning borrower and recent recipient of a Business Builder Loan to help with the purchase and setup of the new Good Heart Farm Store in Worcester, VT. The new store will be a place where customer can get local goods year-round, including vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, maple syrup…and even lattes. It’ll be a local foods grocery open 5 days a week, open to the entire community, and a location for their CSA pick-up.

Dreamwalker Farm in Grand Isle, VT is a woman-owned business raising 3,000 laying hens, hogs, rabbits, turkeys & meat chickens. In 2020 they opened a farm store which sells their farm-raised meats and eggs, as well as other locally produced foods and crafts. A Business Builder Loan from the VFF allowed Dreamwalker Farm to purchase a walk-in cooler and an egg grader.

Chicken Wiggle Farm is a diversified farm in Chelsea, VT offering seasonal veggies and farm-raised eggs, pork, chicken, turkey, beef as well as a variety of jams, jellies, pickles and apple cider. They came to the VFF for a Business Builder loan to expand their farm store by renovating an existing building on their property, allowing them to offer a wider variety of locally grown and made goods.

Food Connects operates a regional food distribution hub in Brattleboro, VT. They make it easy for wholesale customers throughout New England to purchase source-identified food from a variety of regional producers, offering competitive pricing, personalized service, and products they can feel good about. A Business Builder loan from the VFF will allow Food Connects to build its inventory, increasing its purchasing from small and medium producers throughout the region.

Winding Brook Farm in Strafford came to the VFF for a Business Builder Loan to expand and modernize their sugaring operation. With the loan they will be able to expand from 1000 to 2150 taps and purchase a reverse osmosis machine. They operate a diversified family farm. Their enterprises include eggs, vegetables, meats (lamb, pork, chicken), maple syrup, and they operate a farm stay guest house.

Knee Deep Farm in Jeffersonville, VT is a diversified farm growing Certified Organic vegetables, herbs, garlic & flowers. Shane and Eliza used their VFF Business Builder Loan to purchase a tillage tractor. This will allow them to easily move pallets and bins of winter storage crops in their dry storage room. With additional storage for their fall crops they will be able to extend the season for wholesale vegetables and expand their fall CSA program.