Jackson Browne calls farm exchange 'revolutionary'
Toolbox
By DAPHNE LARKIN Staff Writer - Published: June 10, 2007
BARRE – Inside the old Homer Fitts building on Main St., rock star Jackson Brown was talking about a revolution.
That was the rocker's word for the scene at the Local Agricultural Community Exchange, known as L.A.C.E., as he and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., toured the expansive building filled with Vermont art, wares and farm products Saturday afternoon.
"It's really on the forefront of what needs to happen, this whole concept," Browne said.
Browne is in town to play two sold-out concerts at the Barre Opera House to benefit L.A.C.E., which opens today after a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 9:45 a.m. His god-daughter, Ariel Zevon, created the exchange to build a connection between the Barre community and local farmers in the former department store.
"I think it's adventurous in terms of community … and the culture in terms of spirituality. I think our connection to the land is essential for the path ahead of us in terms of saving our planet," Browne said.The coolers at L.A.C.E. are loaded with farm-fresh bacon, cheeses and milk, just like any other local cooperative market. The store sells local flowers, plants, vegetables, bath salts, teas and hand-woven baskets. Plus the requisite maple syrup and local honey.
What distinguishes the exchange from other food stores is the way it encourages shoppers and sellers to interact with each other.
There is a stage space for acoustic performers and readings; tables and chairs for a café; a bread bakery, and kitchen equipment for people to make food products from local ingredients.
Zevon said they are working with 20 to 30 farmers. "(My favorite part is) when I'm connecting with the farmers," she said. "When they tell me how excited they are to put their products in a local store."
Anthony Pollina and his family were on hand to showcase Vermont Milk Company's creemee machine, which is being marketed in New England. The product is the only natural soft ice cream made exclusively from Vermont milk.
Leahy, who is a fan of Browne's music and attended the concert Saturday, toured the farm exchange with the rock star and spoke of his excitement about the new use for the old store he remembers from his childhood. Leahy said he flew up from Washington, D.C., this morning.
"I wanted to show support for anything that will bring our downtowns back," he said. "But (this is) even better because you're helping local producers … I think it's wonderful. A lot of these people work so hard they don't have the time to market (their wares) too," Leahy said.
Crystal Zevon, Ariel's mother and former wife of '70s rocker Warren Zevon, was there to usher around two young Barre boys who are making a video documentary of the evolution of L.A.C.E.
"Part of the (L.A.C.E.) mission is to involve local youth," Crystal Zevon said. Keegan Woodward, 13, and Sean Pagan, 14, both of Barre, said they have been working on the video project since February.
Ramiz Mujkanovic, the bread baker at L.A.C.E., gave Leahy and Browne loaves from his first batch of L.A.C.E. bread. Mujkanovic, who is from Bosnia, has been in Vermont for eight years. He has been a professional baker for 23 years.
Browne was as pleased with the food as he was with the overall concept.
"It tastes better … it supports the local community, and it gives people a sense of identity," Browne said. "(It's better) to support local people who you know rather than put your life in the hands of corporate structures that you know very well have no consideration for the individual's well-being."
He also complimented the décor and marketing approach of the store, which includes hand-written signs advertising fresh produce: Fat Rooster Farm, Royalton; Littlewood Farm, Plainfield; Tweed Valley Farm, Pittsfield; VT Herb and Salad Co., Benson and Pete's Garden, Craftsbury.
"I like the biographies of the farmers of Vermont; I like the photos of the young people on the wall," he said. "And I'm not surprised because Ariel's always had this philosophy; she and Crystal have done things in the past like this. I probably would have come to support whatever she's doing," Browne said. "This is what gives rise to the music."
Which is lucky for his fans, some of whom visited L.A.C.E. to meet him and get photos taken with him. One fan even asked him to tune his guitar, which turned out to be broken.
Browne, who said he supports Barack Obama for the 2008 presidential election, spends a lot of time giving benefit concerts for causes he supports, even though he said he's supposed to be in the studio recording now.
Browne said he feels strongly that the United States has to get out of the war in Iraq, and he expressed dismay with the Democratic Party. "Sometimes I really wonder if they're courageous enough," he said.
Sandy Zevon, Warren Zevon's cousin, came up from White Plains, N.Y., to celebrate Ariel's accomplishment.
"Her dad would have been very proud of her," he said.
Contact Daphne Larkin at (802) 479-0191 ext.1171 or daphne.larkin@timesargus.com.
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