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The Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance country stores, while preserving their unique heritage and contributions to their communities.
This site can help you plan your trip through Vermont, as you stop at our Independent Country Stores for food and fuel and souvenirs and conversation and new friendships. Our individual store pages tell you what products and services you can find, offer pictures of the stores along with local history background, and give links to local sites and other information.
Check out the News and Information Section for links to the Alliance's participation in the Vermont History Expo 2010 (with photos!), a Vermont Magazine story on the Taftsville Store, a WCAX report on Ripton's famous IEC machine, and of course photos from the 2010 Annual Meeting at the Applebutter Inn.
This year's annual meeting was held at the Applebutter Inn in Taftsville, right behind the Taftsville Country Store. The presentation included Bill MacDonald and Doug Tschorn offering an introduction to social media, sharing thoughts on what works with online tools such as Facebook and Twitter. Justin Anderson from G Housen & Co. discussed strategies to protect wine margins, and offered new ideas on presenting wine in country stores. Following the presentation came the Castleton Diner lunch provided by John Rehlen. Here is the Annual Meeting Photo Album.
September is Vermont's eighth Independent Country Store Month, dedicated to picnics, gatherings, parades, and celebrations of the diversity of Vermont products, all surrounding Vermont's historic country stores. The Alliance's 50 member stores are holding a month of product tasting, including cheese, honey, syrup, ice cream, and milk, and celebrating with balloons, banners, artwork contests, picnics and barbecues. Already a leader in offering home-grown goods, the Alliance has also launched a product label that includes quality items such as sodas, soaps, bread mixes and condiments, which are only available through members stores.
For more information on participating in Independent Country Store Month, for the latest newsletter, or for an application to be an Alliance member, contact Charlie Wilson at 802-457-1135 or taftsville@vaics.org, or download the application form on our website.
The new guide to Vermont's independent country stores has rolled off The History Press. Country Stores of Vermont: A History and Guide was written by the Alliance's executive director Dennis Bathory-Kitsz. The 256-page guide covers the history of country stores and includes ten tours with driving directions and maps, with sixty modern and historical photos. If you're visiting Vermont, this book is a must-have! The book is available at Amazon.com or any of our country stores or local bookshops. There is a Vermont Public Radio audio postcard about it and also it was the cover story on Seven Days
Planning your Vermont trek? Stop for directions, lunch, souvenirs, and the best of Vermont hospitality along the way! Use the Tour Map of Country Stores to help make the most of your visit to the Green Mountains! Our maps are now updated.
Look for the banner or the Alliance decal and know that you're in one of Vermont's genuine independent country stores!
Discover more about Vermont's independent country stores with our links to articles and television shows. Watch the CNN and NBC News stories, read about us in the Boston Globe and New York Times. There are other videos and news articles in the Newsroom or you can watch our own homemade video of available in streaming Real Media or Windows Media formats. Watch "Vermont's Independent Country Stores"
The Alliance is introduce its new line of products made especially for us -- Vermont Village Foods. Look for the store-brown label with the store-sun-mountains logo! Only members of the Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores carry Vermont Village Foods!
You can become a member of the Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores. Qualifying stores must meet historical and service criteria, but Associate Members and Friends are always welcome!
Our 2010 Annual Meeting sponsors include G Housen
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Along with our stores members and wonderful Associate Members and Friends, we are proud to present two corporate sponsors: Long Trail Brewing Company and Cabot Creamery Cooperative.
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Our special media associate for the past year has been Vermont Magazine, which profiles a member store in each issue.
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Alliance Offices Vermont Grocers Assn. 135 North Main Street, Suite 5 Rutland, VT 05701 Tel: 802-775-5460 Fax: 802-773-2242 countrystores@vaics.org |
Chairman Charlie Wilson PO Box 2 Taftsville VT 05073 Tel: 802-457-1135 taftsville@vaics.org |
Executive Director Dennis Bathory-Kitsz 176 Cox Brook Road Northfield VT 05663 Tel: 802-659-4223 bathory@vaics.org |
