Our Story

Tucked away in Vermont’s Champlain Islands, Sunset Lake’s beginnings are rooted in Vermont dairy. The farm with which we share our name, Sunset Lake Farm, produces milk and cream for Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and is a long-standing member farm of their Caring Dairy program.

In 2018, Sam Bellavance saw an opportunity to diversify his family’s farm with its first hemp crop.

The next year, Bellavance approached Alex Frey, who’d previously grown medicinal cannabis in California, and together they planted their first CBD hemp crop in the Spring of 2019. Not long after, the two were joined by Bellavance’s childhood friend, Cy Kupersmith. Pursuing an MBA at the time, Kupersmith split his time between studying and helping Bellavance create Sunset Lake CBD in August 2019.

The trio soon learned that it would take a village to properly raise thousands of hemp plants— careful to preserve the CBD’s integrity without the use of harmful pesticides. The majority-farmer-owned business put out the call for help and set their starting minimum wage at $22/hour.

It’s these principles— farmer ownership, honest pay, and dignified work— that have seen Sunset Lake through three successful harvests and allowed the company to grow.

Today, Sunset Lake ships craft CBD products directly to your door, practices sustainable farming techniques, and uses its brand to help empower workers all over because of support from people like you!

Our (Extended!) Team

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Black Lab named Mudge wearing the Sunset Lake CBD Paw Print Bandana

Mudge

Founder, Sam Bellavance holding a Sunset Lake CBD Tincture

Sam Bellavance

Kelly, Sunset Lake CBD's Director of Operations

Kelly Duignan

Cyril standing next to a full Lifter plant

Cy Kupersmith

Nick standing next to a flowering hemp plant

Nick Scott

Rev standing in the field at Sunset Lake CBD's Vermont hemp farm. He's got a big beard and is wearing large white sunglasses and a black baseball hat.

Rev. J. S. Baker II

T.J., Sunset Lake CBD's Dir. of e-commerce

T.J. Anania

Sunset Lake CBD's Assistant Farm Manager, Yonah.

Yonah Simonelli

Christie grabbing a tray of baby plants

Christie Farkas

Lex standing next to a hemp plant

Lex Ciecierski

Josh Barnes standing in a meadow

Josh Barnes

Our Philanthropies

Worker Welfare card with Planned Parenthood, Mass Nurses Network, and Give directly logos

Worker Welfare

Land conservation card with a Green Mountain Club logo

Land Conservation

Drug Policy card with Norml, Innocence Project, and Drug Policy Alliance logos

Drug & Cannabis Prohibition

Vermont Card with Feeding Chittenden and Vermont Public Radio logos

Taking Care Of Neighbors

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