Contacts:
Chelsea Lewis, Agency of Agriculture, 802-828-3360

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Montpelier, VT – Rose Wilson, business and marketing consultant based in Norwich, Vermont has been selected as the project leader of the New England Beef-to-Institution Marketing Study.

The goal of the study is to support sales of locally produced ground beef to New England institutions. The implementation plan developed from the study will be a resource for producers, distributors, institutional buyers, state departments of agriculture, and other partners in the sourcing and utilization of New England-raised beef.

A truly collaborative effort, the project has financial support from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, the State Agricultural Departments in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and the Vermont Agricultural Innovation Center. In addition, the Rhode Island Division of Agriculture, Healthcare Without Harm, the Northeast Farm-to-School Network and Harvest New England are providing organizational support to encourage the regional effort.

The consulting team on the Marketing Study consists of senior level talent across a variety of disciplines. The team includes Rose Wilson as the project leader, Charlene Andersen of Kamigo Marketing LLC as coordinator of institutional market research, communications and social media, Louise Calderwood lead distribution channel researcher, and Kate Rumley as research assistant. Policy Analyst Doug Hoffer will assist with development of effective survey questions and statistical verification of the research results.

For more information contact Chelsea Lewis, Vermont Agency of Agriculture (802) 828-3360; Chelsea.Lewis@state.vt.us