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Burlington, Vermont - March 25, 2011

Workers at Lake Champlain Chocolates are finishing off another year's worth of production on one of the company's signature sweets. "Thousands and thousands," said John Weishaar of Lake Champlain Chocolates.

It's time again for Easter bunnies. "Everyone wants a chocolate bunny to buy for their kids or themselves. For old and young-- people want chocolate bunnies on Easter," said Meghan Fitzpatrick of Lake Champlain Chocolates.

Lake Champlain Chocolates turns out more than 100,000 rabbits each year. While some of the brand's other candies are molded on automated lines, the bunnies are all poured by hand. "Just filling a mold with plain chocolate does take skill. There's air bubbles you've got to be careful of. There are seams where the mold comes together you have to make sure are tight," Weishaar explained.

Easter typically runs neck-and-neck with Valentine's Day as the company's busiest time of the year. On top of the bunnies, it'll move 800,000 cream-filled eggs and tens of thousands of other holiday treats to wholesale store accounts and internet customers around the country. But the single favorite is the design copied from antique molds.

"I think it's just nostalgia," Fitzpatrick said. "We've certainly experimented over the years with different molds, different types of bunnies, and in the end, people want the classic bunny."

The chocolate-makers are also thinking about the future of Easter products. This year it's released a new bunny made from all organic ingredients, wrapped in a compostable bag and tied with ribbon made from recycled bottles. It's a nod to the fact this year Easter falls close to Earth Day.

Fitzpatrick said, "As far as we know, there are no other organic bunnies out there, that are at least available nationwide like ours."

Lake Champlain Chocolates is just one of the area food producers hoping consumers fill their Easter baskets with products that are Made in Vermont.

The classic bunnies sell for $5-$15. Because Easter falls so late in April this year, the company hopes some customers will end up eating their candy early and buy a second bunny.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News