Governor’s Fund Spurs Ag-Related Economic Development Across Virginia
In partnership with: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
For more than a decade, the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund has supported agribusinesses of all sizes in Virginia, including produce companies, dairy, meat and poultry processors, specialty food and beverage manufacturers, greenhouse operations, and more. Recipients often say AFID Fund grants are critical to the success of their new or expanding operations.
Industry Leader
Better Future Farms Inc. recently completed a new hydroponic greenhouse and wholly automated packing facility in Louisa County. At full capacity, the facility will generate several million pounds of lettuce per year, which will be sold through a sales agreement with Taylor Farms, the nation’s largest salad and fresh-cut vegetable producer.
Better Future Farms will receive a $200,000 grant from the Governor’s AFID Fund, which Louisa County will match with local incentives.
“Investors like to see partnerships with state and local government,” says David Drescher, Better Future Farms CEO. “When companies like ours are looking at different regions to put facilities, one of the things you look at is total capital expenditure, so when local and state governments are willing to put in a bit of capital, that helps in the decisions.”
Drescher applauds Virginia’s efforts to become a leader in controlled environment agriculture.
“These advanced technology greenhouses are gaining in popularity around the world,” he says. “It’s great that Virginia is attracting companies like ours and others to locate here and grow our crops.”
See more: Virginia Aquaculture Leaders Take Measures to Keep the State’s Industry Robust
Distributing Success
Wholesome Foods, a full-scale food distribution company, is home to the Old Dominion brand of country ham, bacon, roast beef and deli turkey, with a product line including poultry, eggs, meats and other deli items as well. They’ve long processed beef and pork, but thanks in part to a $40,000 AFID grant, they’re constructing a new U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected slaughter facility in Edinburg.
“This facility will allow us to help local producers process from start to finish, showcasing local brands by helping local companies promote their product,” says Wes Pence, Wholesome Foods president.
He says working with Shenandoah County and state agencies for approvals and funding has brought attention to both his business and local producers.
“These entities want to see that we have a stable food supply in the area,” Pence says. “Preparing a beautiful product for your customers that also tastes good is where we come in and hopefully continue to grow in order to do that.”
See more: Poultry and Eggs Provide a Multibillion-Dollar Direct Impact on Virginia’s Economy
Egg-onomic Development
When Tyson Foods closed its processing plant in Glen Allen in 2023, dozens of poultry farmers lost their sales outlet. Central Virginia Poultry Co-Op was formed in January 2024 to put the former Tyson broiler farmers back in the poultry business.
The co-op entered into an agreement to raise pullets, or chicks purchased for layers, for Dutch Country Organics in Indiana and supply them with eggs from hens raised in Virginia. Converting poultry houses from broiler production to raising pullets requires significant investment. The Governor’s AFID Fund provided a $50,000 grant, with seven Virginia counties providing matching funds.
“The Governor’s AFID Fund grant and the state’s support of our co-op have been very beneficial to our growth and in helping with the startup expenses,” says John Bapties, co-op president.
Within just a few months of forming, the co-op raised more than 600,000 pullets for Dutch Country and other producers. By fall 2024, the co-op had shipped approximately 2.87 million eggs. Several other farms are currently retrofitting their existing poultry houses to become egg-laying farms, which will increase the number of eggs produced.
“It would have been impossible to achieve all that we have so far without the AFID Fund grant and Governor Glenn Youngkin and his team,” Bapties says.