From left to right: Karen Guile (Peaslee’s Potatoes), James Marsh (Johnson State College Dining Team), Tom Fondakowski (General Manager at Johnson State College), Annie Rowell (Sodexo’s Vermont First), Janice Peaslee (Peaslee’s Potatoes), and Corey Kelley (Johnson State College Dining Team) Photo Credit: Nicole Chicoine
In 1928, on the eve of the Great Depression, Fred and Gertrude Peaslee set out to find land along the Connecticut River to start a farm. Settling in Guildhall, Vermont, little did they know they were building a business that would be the livelihood of their family for multi-generations. Eighty-five years later, Janice Peaslee, Fred and Gertrude’s daughter-in-law, together with Karen Guile, their granddaughter, own and operate the 250-acre potato farm.
This year, through Vermont First, we identified an opportunity to increase our local potato purchasing in partnership with Peaslee’s Potatoes and our distributor partner Black River Produce. In our excitement, we made the trek to Guildhall to see the potato crop in full bloom and meet Karen’s family and team.
Karen Guile showing us their potato storage in the basement of the barn built by her grandfather, Fred, during the Depression. Take note of the slots meticulously molded in the concrete walls behind her. They use the same space and system built and designed by Fred Peaslee: after potatoes are harvested and brought back to the barn, the floor boards on the main floor of the barn are taken out and the potatoes are emptied into the barn basement potato bunker, guided by boards inserted into these angled concrete slots. Photo credit: Nicole ChicoineThe farm doorbell next to the front door of the barn. In the background, you can see a blurry image of the farm’s refrigerated truck backed up to the loading dock. Photo credit: Nicole ChicoineThis year’s potato crop was in full bloom when we visited – fields of white flowers as far as the eye could see. Photo credit: Nicole ChicoineMarc Labens, Farm Manager, has been with the farm for twenty two years. He dug up some red potatoes to see how they are coming along. “Not too long now,” he said. Photo credit: Nicole Chicoine
Our Johnson State College Dining Team – Corey, James, and Tom – explores one of the many Peaslee potato fields along the Connecticut River. Photo credit: Nicole ChicoineThese potatoes will feed our campus communities across Vermont – from Castleton University all the way to Lyndon State College. Photo credit: Nicole Chicoine
Sodexo's Commitment to Buying Vermont First 