Local chef treks to Washington to serve a Taste of Vermont
Reformer.com
Monday, May 14

WASHINGTON -- Southern Vermont's Sharon Myers, founder of Purple Chef Artisan Marmalades and Chutneys, was among more than 50 Vermont businesses, including 40 food and beverage makers, showcased at a reception in Washington on Thursday, May 10.

Sen. Patrick Leahy and Vermont tourism partners hosted the second annual Taste of Vermont -- a tasty affair to tout Vermont as a great place to hold meetings, retreats and conferences. Myers, who founded the Purple Chef two years ago, participated to gain more visibility for her product among buyers, writers, meeting planners and members of Congress.

"It was a successful experience and I'll do it again next year, but it was also clear that northern Vermont has made great strides in developing the specialty food industry," she said. "One thing that would help Southern Vermont is a co-pack facility where a number of businesses can share professional kitchen and storage space. Senator Leahy sponsored such a facility in Fairfax, and we're hoping to interest him for one here. The closest to us is Greenfield, Mass., and that brings up issues about being made in Vermont."

Meeting planners and VIPs, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch, were treated to a sampling of Vermont's finest specialty foods from prize-winning cheeses to world famous ice cream.

Other Southern Vermont businesses represented were Against The Grain Gourmet Foods, Grafton Village Cheese and Putney Pasta.