The Vermont Blueberry Festival showcases the region’s agricultural roots and benefits area businesses

WILMINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Every summer in southern Vermont, the region celebrates a berry to benefit local businesses by bringing the whole community together.

It’s been a good year for blueberries, and the Bigelows, who own a vacation home in the area, are taking advantage of it.

“I like the taste and I like the colors too,” said Louisa Bigelow of Halifax.

The Bigelow family have been to the Boyd Family Farm in the past, but this year’s visit coincides with the area’s 13th annual Vermont Blueberry Festival.

“The views are really beautiful and there are fun activities you can do,” said Louisa Bigelow.

“We really wanted our farming roots to be represented,” said Janet Boyd of the Boyd Family Farm.

The farm helped run the festival over a decade ago, not only to help its own results, but also for other businesses in the Deerfield Valley, such as restaurants, bars and clothing stores.

“Blueberry-inspired menu items, blueberry cocktails, blue dot promotions for storefronts,” Boyd said.

“I’m just reminding people of what makes Vermont and southern Vermont in particular so unique,” said Bethaney LaClair, executive director of the Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce.

From the Boyd family farm, you can see Haystack and Mount Snow in the distance. Skiing is obviously a big draw for tourists, but according to state tourism officials, the summer months account for about 30% of overall annual spending.

“We have businesses to support you when you’re not doing those things, whether it’s shopping, eating, we have some really great breweries, distilleries and wineries in the area,” LaClair said.

And family farms like the Boyd’s, which is almost 100 years old.

“We can help them get more business and money and stuff, and it’s fun for us, so it’s a win-win,” said Sadie Bigelow of Halifax.

The festival will culminate with a street fair in Wilmington on Saturday. There will be live music, vendors and of course blueberries. Click here for more details.

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