[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 99 (Thursday, June 28, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4718-S4719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATING THE 2012 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to commend three outstanding Vermont 
companies that were recently singled out for recognition at the 2012 
Fancy Food Show in Washington, D.C. These vendors were among the select 
110 Silver Finalists for the show's coveted Specialty Outstanding Food 
Innovation, sofi, gold awards, widely considered to be one of the top 
honors in the specialty food industry. The sofi Awards, from the 
National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), recognize 
the best in specialty food and beverage and are a coveted industry 
honor. This year's contest was the most competitive in the history of 
the awards, with a record 2,520 entries.
  Two of the vendors, Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery, located in 
Websterville, and Big Picture Farm L3C, located in Townshend, won the 
gold sofi in their categories, while Grafton Village Cheese, located in 
Grafton, represented Vermont proudly as a finalist in the category for 
outstanding cheese or dairy products for their new cheese, Cave Aged 
Leyden.
  Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery's owners, Allison Hooper and Bob 
Reese, deserve well-earned congratulations for winning three gold sofi 
Awards, including Best Product Line, Best Cheese or Dairy Product for 
their aged goat cheese Bonne Bouche, and Best Perishable Food Service 
Product for their Sea Salt Crystal Cultured Butter. Allison and Bob's 
extraordinary achievement demonstrates, beyond a doubt, that Vermont 
Butter and Cheese Creamery has succeeded at building a high quality, 
superior brand that reflects the values and ethos of Vermont.
  Congratulations are due as well to Big Picture Farm's owners, Louisa 
Conrad and Lucas Farrell, for winning a gold sofi Award in the 
Confectionary Category for their Farmstead Goat Milk Caramels. When I 
met this young couple last week, I was taken with their energy and 
excitement for both their goats and their award winning caramels. 
Earlier this year, Louisa and Lucas received a U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Value Added Producer Grant which helped them expand their 
farm, hire additional staff members,

[[Page S4719]]

and expand their business plan. The Value Added Producer Grant, 
together with Big Picture Farm's hard work and commitment to their 
vision, helped to catapult this new business to a sofi Award after less 
than two years in business. That is quite an achievement. I can't wait 
to see what challenges this young couple will tackle next.
  Recognition should go, too, to Bob Allen, Christine Damour, and Wendy 
Levy, co-owners of Grafton Village Cheese. This year, Grafton Village 
Cheese was a sofi finalist in the category of Outstanding Cheese or 
Dairy Products. Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery also competed in 
this category and to have not one, but two great Vermont companies 
competing as finalists in the same category is an outstanding 
achievement for any State, much less one as small as Vermont.
  I always enjoy seeing Vermonters in Washington, and was pleased to 
visit them at the 2012 Fancy Food Show. These companies create Vermont 
jobs and grow Vermont's economy. During these tough economic times, 
this kind of work is vital to restoring the American way of life and 
getting the country back on track. I am extremely proud of the hard 
work, dedication, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovation of these 
exceptional Vermont companies.

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