Pack a picnic and head to the waterfalls and shores of the Green Mountains
 
Vermonters do summer up right. We know where all of the deepest and most exotic swimming holes are and exactly what to bring there with us! That would be our besties and giant coolers packed with ice cold craft brews, spiced up salads and Vermont made snacks that last all the live long day—that’s all the way up to when the fireflies come out to play!
 
Whether you’re jumping feet first off a grassy bank or have geared yourself up to experience that high diving adrenaline, dare devil or not, it’s high flying fun for everyone inside of Vermont’s rainbow laden waterfalls, crystal clear waters and more ancient rocks to bask on than anyone could ever dream up. There’s nothing like the sights, sounds and sensations of summertime within these Green Mountains. Our natural landscapes fill our senses to the brim.
 
Here at Vermont’s Own Products we have a few tricks up our sleeves to punch up the Vermont experience for your family in this season of sun and fun. We are always mindful of what’s true, good and beautiful when it comes to producers, their ingredients and business practices. Rest assured, all of our goods are Vermont made by the best people in the state, in the finest working environments and with the highest quality ingredients.
 
Pack those pockets with Nut Free Tanabar Chewy Granola Bars for that family trek. Vermont Nut Free Chocolate Company bakes up gourmet products in small batches the old fashioned way from the finest nut free ingredients. This Grand Isle company hand makes each batch of treats in a nut free facility!
 
Vermonters care about the source. When you spice up that taco salad for your riverside picnic, consider Bloodroot Mountain Sauces! These are non-GMO and made with locally harvested organic ingredients! Every batch is prepared by hand.
 
Vinegars travel well in the lakeside cooler of yours! Buy a variety of Vermont Vinegars with their unique, rich flavors derived from only high-quality drinking cider and wines fresh off the farm. All are crafted with a traditional small batch fermenting process and aged 6 to 24 months. The berries, apples and maple syrup used in these are grown right in Monkton! It’s a truly local product, from tree and vine to your summertime cooler.

Vermont Leads the Nation in Maple Syrup Production

The State of Vermont has reported that once again Vermont leads the nation in making maple syrup, producing nearly two million gallons this year. It’s cause to celebrate because this means that about half of the maple syrup produced in the United States is made right here in the Green Mountains.

Vermont has led the nation in maple taps since 1916, highlighting the depth and importance of the industry to Vermont’s economy and culture. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Vermont maple syrup producers set 5.67 million maple taps in 2018, which is five percent more than during the 2017 season, and the largest number of taps since 1928 according to their National Agricultural Statistics Service. It was also a long season with sugar makers in the woods on average 52 days. That’s nearly one week longer than in 2017.

Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts said Vermont sugar makers’ commitment and quality stands alone in producing a natural product that’s beloved around the world. Vermont maple syrup production in 2018 totaled 1.94 million gallons, down 2 percent from 2017. The earliest 2018 Vermont sap flow reported was January 12.

In other great Vermont maple news, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $4 million for technical research, extension and market development, and increased efficiency for all maple producing states. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“Vermont maple is the gold standard across the world,” Sen. Leahy said in a press release. “These investments are a top priority for Vermont, and they will develop new markets and techniques for Vermont farmers who work hard to produce this all-natural Vermont product every spring.”

In honor of these great accomplishments, let's celebrate together! Purchase Vermont's Own pure Vermont maple syrup right here with us today! Our local sugar makers will thank you!

Champs Trading Post & Extreme Mini-Golf is open for the season! It’s situated right on the shores of Lake Champlain on Route 17 in West Addison. Tucked behind the Trading Post that’s stocked with goodies and gifts galore, is an “extreme” mini-golf course! Stop in to sample some locally made Vermont foods while you take in the beautiful terrain of this revamped dairy farm. Check out the two new arcade games inside for rainy day fun!
  
The cows are now gone, but the Franklin farming legacy continues. Unlike Champ, the illusive Lake Champlain monster, this destination spot is easy to find, just 20 minutes from Vergennes and Middlebury, and 45 minutes from Burlington. The Franklin family has worked on this land for decades. Now, Champ’s Trading Post is chock-full of their homemade foods. There’s plenty of local maple syrup, cheese, fudge, and chocolates to go around as well, along with commemorative shirts, toys, gift baskets, and lake and lodge decor. Fresh produce is also sold in season.
 
Out back there are 9 holes of what we like to call “extreme” mini-golf. It’s Vermont’s own take on fun and frustration set in a rolling, rural hillside. The course is a quality way to spend an afternoon with the whole family on challenging twists of beautifully landscaped gardens and natural stonework. The mini-golf course rolls and dips, uphill and down, around natural obstacles and is suitable for all ages!
 
Champs Trading Post & Extreme Mini-Golf is open seasonally from Memorial Day to Columbus Day and the Trading Post is also open for the holiday season Thanksgiving to Christmas to sell trees and wreaths.

For more information call 802-759-2566 or email ctpgifts@yahoo.com.

Shop on Main Street before the show!

Our friends at The Better Middlebury Partnership, a civic organization dedicated to making Greater Middlebury a better place to live, work and play, has created a Midd-Summer Music and Movies Series for all of us to enjoy! We would like to urge you to participate in this series and stop in to chat with us over FREE SAMPLES of Vermont’s finest foods and health and beauty products! The events are listed below.

Their goal at Experience Middlebury is to build partnerships in town, with the college, and within our vibrant business community. Their efforts align with our own, to promote not only a thriving Middlebury but to bring our great state together in the spirit of unity and prosperity by celebrating local people and their creations. Visit VtsOwn.com to see what talented Vermonters are crafting these days.  

Our shop is steps away from the world-renowned Middlebury College, “a place uniquely situated at the intersection of small-town charm and global influence.” We are one of many locally-owned businesses that line the streets in town. There are a plethora of great places to dine and enjoy the outdoors, as well.

Did you know the old-world charm of downtown Middlebury is protected by the State of Vermont’s Designated Downtown program? It’s all about smart economic growth, community building and supporting our neighbors in myriad ways. Head out and meet some new folks this summer with all of us at Vermont’s Own Products at the Midd-Summer Music and Movies Series!