VAFEP 2009

The purpose of the Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship Program (VAFEP) is to support new and existing innovative value-added food processing and food production enterprises and to strengthen agriculture and food economic development opportunities in the Virginia Piedmont region through a series of educational workshops.

The VAFEP presents an excellent strategy for local agriculture and food entrepreneurs to immediately and positively impact the piedmont area economy and regional foodshed by gaining valuable information about important food safety regulations, business planning tools and local food marketing techniques. 

Learning from experts such as local agriculture and food entrepreneurs, professionals at the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Thomas Jefferson Health District, Virginia Tech, Central Virginia Small Business Development Center and Piedmont Environmental Council will allow new and existing agricultural and food-based business developers to strengthen there knowledge and understanding of these important topics, which will ultimately help generate economic impacts for there businesses and for the local economy.

The direct producer-to-consumer exchange of locally produced food with those who consume it, helps to create local economic development and sustainable community food systems, integrating all members of a community, promoting sustainable agriculture, strengthening our family farms, enhancing socio-economic wellbeing and incubating new generations of farmers. This relationship also connects rural residents with urban dwellers, and unites agricultural lands with non-farming land, in the process, strengthening our communities.

Enhancing our communities through the development of local and regional food systems gives us the ability to strengthen the web that interconnects all aspects and all members of society, thereby creating a more unified community. As a result, we construct an environment that is more economically diverse, environmentally sustainable and socially interconnected.

 

VAFEP Workshop Overview

Location of The Albemarle County Office Building COB:

The purpose of the Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship Program (VAFEP) is to support new and existing value-added food processing and food production enterprises and to strengthen direct producer-to-consumer partnerships in the Virginia Piedmont region through a series of educational workshops.

The Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship program invites people interested in starting an agriculture or food-based business to a series of two workshops that will address many common questions about starting such a business venture. This two-day workshop series will give participants practical information on starting and operating a food-based business in Virginia and explain many of the common regulatory, business planning, and marketing issues and concerns that involve such a business.

T & E Meats
Joe Cloud of T & E Meats in Harrisonburg, Virginia

These workshops occured on Monday, March 30, 2009 and Monday April 6, 2009, at the Albemarle County Government Building from 9am to 5pm. The address for these events was 1600 5th Street Extended, Charlottesville VA 22902. The cost to attend one of these workshops was just $20 while the cost to attend both was only $35. Pre-registration strongly encouraged and space is limited to the first 50 individuals who register. Walk-in registrations considered if capacity allows. However, lunch available for pre-registrants only.

For additional information or to pre-register, please contact the Piedmont Environmental Council at (434) 977-2033. Additional information about these workshops as well as agriculture and food-based business development can be found online at www.VAFEP.org. Questions can be directed to Matt Benson at mcbenson@vt.edu, (540)341-7961 or Dawn Story at dstory@pecva.org, (434)977-2033.

Fresh Produce
 Produce line up at Planet Earth Diversified

Sponsors and Coordinators:

  • USDA/SARE Sustainable Community Innovation Grant
  • Growing Food & Community
  • Piedmont Environmental Council
  • Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech
  • Central Virginia Small Business Development Center
  • Planet Earth Diversified, Michael Clark
  • Charlottesville City Market/Charlottesville Parks & Recreation
  • County of Albemarle
  • Meet the Farmer TV (Melli Productions, Clark of PED, Jenkins of Photography and Video Capture)
  • Scottsville Farmers’ Market/Scottsville Chamber of Commerce
  • Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Sustainability, Farm Bureau VA & Save our Food
  • Melli Productions, Editor, Co-Producer Documentary DVD
  • Leslie P. Jenkins Photography and Design
  • Flavor Magazine
  • New Moon Naturals, Dawn Story of PEC