Held each year at the historic and visually stunning Shelburne Farms' Coach Barn, the Vermont Fresh Network Annual Forum is a wonderful event in which to meet local Vermont farmers, attend educational workshops, listen to keynote speakers and taste the fruits of partnership between Vermont's finest chefs and farmers.

In attendance at the 2010 VFN Forum were such restaurants as American Flatbread, Topnotch, Bluebird Tavern, Michael's on the Hill, and many more. Events included passed hors d'oeuvres, product samplings, artisan cheeses, keynote speaker Marian Burros, a walk-around dinner with dishes from 25 Vermont chefs featuring farm-fresh Vermont ingredients, outdoor cooking classes, and an ice cream social hosted by Strafford Organic Creamery.

Perched on the edge of Lake Champlain and surrounded by the stunning architecture of Shelburne Farms' Coach Barn, an evening spent at VFN's Forum was a true delight. We were able to sample fresh-picked apple varieties we'd never heard of before, taste local baby green salads with radishes picked that day, and sample wines from local Vermont vineyards. American Flatbread fired up their portable cob oven to bake delicious flatbreads and Vermont dairies offered a plethora of amazing butters and cheeses to sample. The partnership between Vermont farmers and chefs is a strong one, as was self-evident with every bite we enjoyed.