Vermont Soy and Vermont Natural Coatings

Andrew Meyer is taking his experience on the farm and melding it with an entrepreneurial spirit to produce two agriculturally based products he hopes will boost farming in the Northeast Kingdom and Vermont in general.

Meyer, a former aide to Senator Jim Jeffords and a booster for environmental policy, is developing a fine of soy-based products. He is also involved in producing a line of natural coatings that are whey based.

Vermont Soy takes the work begun by Todd Pinkham with tempeh (a soy product) patty and expands it. To get the company in production, Meyer built a 6,000 square foot plant at the Hardwick Industrial Park and is starting with five employees, Meyer hopes to be in production by late summer.

The company will produce a fine of soy beverages and develop tofu, soy yogurt, and other products. According to Meyer, both he and Pinkham "are interested in seeing agriculture survive in Vermont."

He sees Vermont Soy as a company providing diversification in agriculture. "Providing the market with a local organic food product is beneficial to farmers and consumers, says Meyer. 'We want to develop a market for soy beans in Vermont which would allow farmers to receive a premium for their product and diversify their base."