2009 Workshop

VAFEP Mission

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.



We have provided a listing of links here to web sites with information:


General Useful Links
:

Web Links to give an inside look 
Some of the following Web Links will take to off this site and the content of the destination is not within VAFEP control. Some links may require Adobe PDF reader.

 

WHAT YOU WILL SELL AND HOW WILL YOU MAKE IT?

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer
Photography, Marketing Web Enhancements and Social Network Platforms

http://www.vafep.com/_PDF/2008%20By%20the%20Numbers.pdf 2008 by the Numbers (with regards to food security) 

http://www.albemarle.org/ Albemarle County Virginia

http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=757 Charlottesville City Market- A Producer Only Marker

http://manager.charlottesvillecitymarket.com/ Charlottesville Market Manager's Blog

http://www.research.vt.edu/ Research- Virginia Tech

Information on Acidified Foods
www.vafairs.com/purpose.htm
  Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Security

http://attra.ncat.org/  Appropriate Technology Tranfer for Rural Areas

www.value-added.org/ Illinois value-added Resource Center

www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/ Kentucky New Crops opportunity Center

www.nass.usda.gov/ National Agricultural Statistics center

www.agmarketing.extension.psu.edu/begfrmrs/SmlFrmDecisionMakingWrkbk.pdf NC Small Farm Decision Making Workbook

www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ U.S. Census Bureau National data Book

www.ams.usda.gov/ USDA - Agricultural Marketing Service

www.ars.usda.gov/  USDA- Agricultural Research Service

www.rurdev.usda.gov/  USDA- Rural Development

www.usda.gov/factbook/  USDA- Agricultural fact Book

www.ext.vt.edu/ VT Cooperative Extension-Home

www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/news/fbmu/2009/06/Article_4.html  VT Cooperative Extension-Production Costs

www.1890aea.org/directory/vsu.cfm  Virginia State UniversityCooperative Extension -Home

www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/354/354-155/354-155.html  Virginia State UniversityCooperative Extension -Production costs

www.extension.agecon.vt.edu/enterprisebudgetsdetail.html  Virginia Tech Production Enterprise Budgets

www.tic.virginia.gov/scholarships.shtml  Virginia Tobacco Indemnification/Community Revitalization Commission

 

 

DEVELOP A PLAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer

www.sbdc.com Small Business Development Center

http://bplans.com  Business Plans/outlines

www.vafairs.com Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Security

www.census.gov/compendia/statab/   U.S. Census Bureau National Data Book

www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm  Value-Added Producer grants

www.dba.virginia.gov/   Virginia Department of Business Assistance

www.yesvirginia.org/   Virginia Economic Development Partnership

 

 

 

REGISTER THE NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS WITH YOUR CITY/COUNTY

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer

Photography, Marketing Web Enhancements and Social Network Platforms
 

 

TAKE A FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION COURSE

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer

http://www.foodsafety.gov/~acrobat/prodguid.pdf HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points)

http://www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/farmers_market/food_safety.pdf Food Safety at Farmers Markets and Agritourism Venues - UC Small Farm Center

http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/  Cornell University GAP (Good Agricutural Practices) program 

http://www.ext.vt.edu/ Virginia Cooperative extension

http://haccpalliance.org/alliance/haccpmodels.html Generic HACCP Models from USDA/FSIS

www.vdacs.virginia.gov/foodsafety/pdf/fshandbook.pdf  Virginia Department of Agriculture Food Safety Handbook

http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/produce-safety/FMA_169_Fresh_Produce_HACCP_Obj_3_Report_Sep_2001.pdf  Generic  HACCP Models for Food Assurance Programmes Implementation Guide (New Zealand)

http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/GAP-V2-June02.pdf  FAO (Food and Agricutlure Organizations of the United Nations) Good Agriculture Practices Initiative

 

 

 

APPLY FOR A FOOD BUSINESS LICENSE

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer

www.ehow.com/how_4812914_virginia-business-license.html How to Apply for a Virginia Food Business License

www.bizincorporation.com/licenses/Virginia/Food-Beverage-License.html Virginia Licenses and Permits: Food-Beverage-License  

 

 

 

COMPLETE STATE AND FEDERAL FORMS AND INSPECTIONS

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepenuers Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer

www.vdacs.virginia.gov/foodsafety/pdf/fshandbook.pdf VDACS (Virginia Department of Agricutlural and Consumer Sciences) Home Processor Inspection Program

www.usda.gov/   USDA

www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/RegistrationofFoodFacilities/default.htm  FDA Facility Registrations

www.scc.virginia.gov/  Virginia State Corporation Commission

 

 

 

DETERMINE YOUR BUSINESS RISKS AND OBTAIN INSURANCE

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer

www.sbdc.com  Small Business Development Center

www.vafairs.com Virginia Foundation for Agriculture Innovation and Rural Security

www.rma.usda.gov/  USDA- Risk Management Agency

www.vfbinsurance.com/   Virginia Farm Bureau -  Insurance for crops, etc.

www.vafb.com/  Virginia Farm Bureau - Home Page

Acidified Foods & Code for Food Regulations

 

 

START SELLING YOUR PRODUCT

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer
Photography, Marketing Web Enhancements and Social Network Platforms
www.pecva.org
  Piedmont Environmental Council publishes the popular "Buy Fresh Buy Local" guides that are online and direct-mailed in several locations throughout Virginia

www.localharvest.org Marketmaker- Buy/sell Produce

www.susta.org/export/market_res.html  Southern United States Trade Association - Agriculture and Food Export Assistance

www.freshfood.org Fres Food directory

www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/CDPP/directmarketingtoschool.htm  Direct Marketing to Schools- UCDavis

 

 

 

SUCCESS STORIES AND SUPPORT

 

www.vafep.com Virginia Food Entrepeneurs Program

www.meetthefarmer.com Meet the Farmer

Marketing/Photography, Web Enhancements, and Social Network Practices
www.mass.gov/agr/news/fmr/2009/2_april_may.htm
Success Farming Marketing Reports

www.smallfarmsuccess.com/CSA_Report.cfm Small Farm Success Project

http://www.ext.vt.edu/ Virginia Cooperative Extension

www.ssawg.org   Southern Sustainable Agricultural Working Group

www.vabf.org   Virginia Association for Biological Farming

www.vicfa.org/   Virginia Informed consumers and Farmers Association

www.Saveourfood.org  This campaign was designed by Virginia Farm Bureau to educate consumers about the foods they eat and encourage everyone to seek out and enjoy local food

www.localharvest.org Local Harvest farm directory

www.bellehavenfarm.com  Belle Haven Bakery located in Scottsville Virginia, offers a wide selection of homemade breads, from our family to yours.

www.caromontfarm.com/view/contact.htm Caromont Farm  is a family owned, goat dairy located near Charlottesville, Va.

Contact: Leslie Jenkins Photography, Video & Web works

www.accordingtodaniel.com/  Jam According to Daniel: one pound of local fruit in every jar - no pectin added!

www.newmoonnaturals.com/ New Moon Naturals was founded on the principle that we can heal ourselves and our planet by living in harmony and balance with the cycles of the universe ...

www.planetearthdiversified.com/   Planet Earth Diversisfied: ecological greenhouse production of the finest quality and flavor microgreens herbs basil and produce 877-ARUGULA ...

http://temeat.com/ True and essential Meats, a USDA-inspected facility near Harrisonburg, Virginia owned by Joe Cloud in partnership with Joel Salatin

www.wildoatsfarmva.com/  Wild Oats Farm offers grass-fed and finished natural beef, lamb and woodlot pork. All of the meat is processed at small, local USDA inspected fac

 

Legal Guide for Farmers (Vermont)
(as a useful guide that has excellent info) 

 

2008 By The Numbers

  

Albemarle County, Virginia - Official Web Site
(Hosted space for Spring Event of VAFEP.org)
 

 

Buy Fresh, Buy Local - Piedmont Environmental Council - pecva.org
(Founder, Grant Fullfillment VAFEP Dawn Story, and Speaker Melissa Wiley)
 


 Photography, Marketing Web Enhancements and Social Network Platforms


Caromont Farm - Farmstead Artisan Cheeses from Albermarle County, Virginia
(Speaker Gail Hobbs)
 

 

Charlottesville : City Market
(Market Manager and Collaborator, Stephanie Anderegg-Maloy)
 

 

Charlottesville City Market - A Producer Only Market
(Stephanie Andregg-Maloy, host Michael Clark, Market Blog, plus others)

  

Leslie P. Jenkins Photography, Design, Video & Web works
and also at: Planet Earth Diversified
 

Market Manager’s Blog
(Charlottesville Market Manager’s Blog with Docs)

  

Meet The Farmer TV - a local program about Food From The Farm to The Plate
(Providing
DVD’s of these workshops) Contact: Frank Melli 

  

New Moon Naturals
(Dawn Story’s Holistic Locally Produced Products)
please see Meet the Farmer tv for more coverage

 

Planet Earth Diversified The Finest Quality and Flavor Year Round
(Speaker, Community and University Collaborations, Web works, and Video:
Michael Clark and Leslie Jenkins)
 

 

Research | Virginia Tech
Working in concert with other departments and organizations
to enhance the well being of our food supply. 
 

 

Scottsville Virginia Chamber of Commerce - Historic River Town
(Admin & Collaboration by Michelle Maggiore)
 

 

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Home Page
(the Grant that VAFEP began with)
 

 

SUSTAINABLE SCOTTSVILLE
(Michelle Maggiore)

  

THOMAS JEFFERSON SOIL 
Information in the Central Virginia area about soil and conservation 

 

True and Essential Meats - Fresh Local quality meats Harrisongburg VA
(Speaker Joe Cloud, in partnership with Joel Salatin)
 

 

US FDA/CFSAN HACCP--Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(Link is sample of HACCP documents; see HACCP tab, above under "Tools and Links")
 

 

Virginia Agriculture & Food Entrepreneurship Program
(our HOME website, for this project)
 

 

Virginia Cooperative Extension
(Key Administrators, Collaboration by Matt Benson and Jillian Davis
 please see Virginia Cooperative Extension links throughout site, and
 at our speakers and collaborators page for contact information and bio)
 

 

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(Speakers from VDACS/Many services provided to the agriculture of Virginia;
 please see links throughout and under "Business" and "Inspection". 
Also see Organic Certification Reimbursment Fund)
 

 

Welcome to the Virginia FAIRS Web site
(Sponsorship, with partnership of Farm Bureau VA and Save our Food
for the first series of workshops, 2009)

  

Welcome to the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network
(Speaker, and Collaboration by Nora Gillespie)

 

http://www.flavormags.com/
(Sponsorship; Local food and wine journalism; please see links throughout 
  the site, which highlight Flavor Magazine's coverage of our Local Foodshed) 

 

http://www.feastvirginia.com/ see also the Local Food Hub non-profit services
to local farmers. (Speaker, Kate Collier)
 

 

http://wildoatsfarmva.com/
(Speaker, Susan Swales)
 

 

http://bplans.com
(Get started with business plans/outlines.  Please see appropriate tab under "Tools and Links"
for "Business" to get more information)

 

http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/foodsafety/pdf/fshandbook.pdf
(Important Document also listed under "Regulations, Inspections and Certification" as a helpful guidline while designing your personal program)

 

Please stay tuned! as these links grow with us…