BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The University of Vermont was the place to be for cheese and dairy lovers on Tuesday.
A variety of local cheese, milk, yogurt and other free samples were up for grabs at UVM’s Annual Cheese and Dairy Fest at the Davis Center.
“It’s nice to see young people really enjoying dairy. It’s nice to see them asking great questions about where was this made? How do these cows live?” said Olga Moriarty with the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership.
“Just really trying to bring focus to when you spend dollars on a local product, it keeps those local businesses going,” said Peter Miller, the owner of Miller Farm, an organic dairy located in Vernon.
Despite major reductions in the number of dairy farms in recent years, the industry remains a large part of the state’s economy, accounting for 70% of annual sales. Cheese, specifically, contributes $650 million annually.