In 2009, Vermont state legislature created the Farm to Plate initiative with the goal of designing a state food and agriculture strategy. The initiative is seeking to "Increase economic development in Vermont's food and farm sector", "Create jobs in the food and farm economy", and "Improve access to healthy local foods". Specifically, as the article's title alludes to, the initiative is looking to double the amount of local food consumption in the state over the next decade. According to a report, if this goal were reached, 1,500 jobs would be created in Vermont, and the state's economy would be boosted by as much as $135 million. Obviously, both job creation and an income boost would benefit Vermont, but having greater access to sustainably and locally produced food would be of equal value to Vermont's citizens. In October of 2011, the Farm to Plate initiative held a conference in Fairlee, Vermont which was attended by about 150 Vermonters, all seeking to work together to make this initiative a reality. At the conference, the attendees gathered in small groups to discuss issues such as the prevalence of local food in Vermont cafeterias, the potential of in-state butcher training programs, and creating a network to link farmers and potential landowners throughout the state. To retain the initiative's momentum, the event organizers proposed that groups should meet again later in 2011, and follow up with another meeting in the first quarter of 2012. While this initiative is a good step in the right direction to helping Vermonters become more conscious of where their food is grown or produced, the proposed followups need to materialize, and more similar initiatives should be created.
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