2007 PRESS RELEASES

October 26, 2007
VDACS AWARDS 11 SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS
Contact: Marion Horsley, 804.225.3820

Todd P. Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), has announced funding for eleven agriculture-related projects which will help open markets for Virginia farm products and promote specialty crops in Virginia.  The projects resulted from the competitive grant process established by the VDACS Division of Marketing for USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant funds.  The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 authorized the USDA to provide funds to the states to promote specialty crops including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

When considering grants for the USDA Specialty Crop Program, VDACS gave priority to projects that included the following activities: assisting farmers in transitioning into specialty, high value agricultural initiatives that address the eligible specialty crops; increasing net farm income through high value or value-added enterprises; finding new ways to add value to specialty agricultural products or new ways to market specialty agricultural products; developing pilot and demonstration programs in specialty agriculture that have the potential for transferability within rural Virginia.

VDACS is awarding grants totaling $111,797.84 for these projects:

1. Development of Virginia Specialty Crop Sales on the Web, awarded to Paul Estabrook, Virginia Gold Orchard, Natural Bridge, Virginia – The grant will fund the development of a menu-driven program to enable specialty crop producers to offer Internet sales by creating their own Web sites customized for product display, ordering, payment, packaging, and shipping.  Internet sales will broaden the market for the sale of small volume and specialty crops.  
2. Pittsylvania Pumpkins Demonstration Project, awarded to Pattie Owen, Owen Farm, Danville, Virginia - Grant funding will support planting a variety of pumpkin seeds to identify the best pumpkin variety for Southern Virginia.  Growing the successful variety will increase pumpkin sales and production, create a viable alternative crop for area farmers, and support the buy-local and pick-your-own products campaign.
3. Farmers’ Markets as an Outlet for Specialty Agriculture Products, awarded to Denise Mainville, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia – Grant funding will facilitate the development of Virginia’s farmers markets, which are important direct market outlets for specialty agriculture products.  By providing data on farmers’ markets, identifying key performance issues, and analyzing their structure, scope and organization, the project will help markets succeed to benefit both consumers and growers.
4. Providing Pollination Support to Local and Regional Growers, awarded to Michael Sandridge, Hillsbrook Farm, Hanover, Virginia – While the need for pollination services continues to grow, pests and diseases have halved the number of honeybee colonies since 1945.  This project will expand a small honey and pollination operation to provide a viable regional pollination alternative, which will benefit regional growers directly and demonstrate the economic viability of a pollination sideline operation on a local and regional level.
5. Organic Brambles for Fresh Local Markets, awarded to Amy Hicks, Amy’s Garden, Quinton, Virginia – Despite growing consumer interest in organically grown, locally raised fruit, the availability of certified organic fruit is virtually nonexistent in central Virginia. This project will demonstrate the viability of organic small fruit production in Virginia and provide a working model of diversification to other regional growers.
6. Educating to Ensure a Future for Christmas Trees, awarded to Sue Bostic, Joe’s Trees, New Castle, Virginia – The grant funds will help stem the downward trend in live Christmas tree sales by educating Virginia children about how Christmas trees are grown and cared for.  Studies show that using school tours and lesson plans will help ensure a future market for Christmas trees as an agricultural crop.  Using that strategy for eight years has resulted in an increase in the percentage of young adults who prefer a farm-grown Christmas tree.
7. Cooled Produce Demonstration Program, awarded to Kevin Semones, Southwest Virginia Farmers Market, Hillsville, Virginia - The rapid cooling of fruit and vegetables removes field heat, significantly enhances freshness, and results in a longer shelf life.  The net effect is increased returns for the grower, the ability to ship the cooled produce, the diversification of crops and new market opportunities.  The grant will fund a demonstration program that will test the feasibility and economic vitality of a cooler for specialty crops.
8. Potato Disease Advisory, awarded to Steve Rideout, Eastern Shore Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Painter, Virginia – Since 1995, computer programs have generated disease prediction models for blight based on climatic readings provided by monitors on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  The Virginia Potato Disease Advisory has saved growers approximately $300,000 in unnecessary fungicide applications. The grant, along with additional funding, will pay for replacing and upgrading the entire advisory network.
9. Increasing Farm income through Organic Specialty Crops, awarded to Katherine Terry, Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD), Abingdon, Virginia - The purpose of this project is to increase market opportunities and income for farmers transitioning from tobacco and other conventional crops to organic fruits and vegetables.  ASD plans to increase overall sales of Appalachian Harvest organic produce, increase the number of participating farmers and increase the markets for produce seconds by expanding the partnership with East Coast Fresh Cuts to produce and market fresh organic salsas and other specialty products.
10. Diagnostic Honey Bee Services, awarded to Keith Tignor, VDACS, Richmond, Virginia - Honey bees pollinate many crops to maximize production and quality. New pest species have significantly reduced the number beehives, and Africanized honey bees are expected to jeopardize further the number of honey bees.  The grant will provide the equipment used in the detection and eradication of pests and pathogens in beehives and thus increase the number of beehives available for improved pollination of crops.
11. Beautiful Gardens™ Promotional Development, awarded to Rick Baker, VDACS, Richmond, Virginia – In addition to its mission to increase the quality and diversity of ornamental plants, the Beautiful Gardens plant introduction program was designed to strengthen the Virginia green industry by creating additional opportunities for current growers and alternatives for farmers looking for new crops. Funding will support the design and production/printing of promotional materials to be used in garden centers across Virginia as an integral part of presenting Beautiful Gardens™ plants to consumers.

In announcing the grants, VDACS Commissioner Todd P. Haymore commented, “These projects take a variety of approaches to increasing the competitiveness of specialty crops in Virginia.  Some aim to expand market opportunities or advance alternative crops; others focus on adding value or helping ensure the continued viability of a particular crop.  I congratulate these individuals for their vision and resourcefulness in developing workable ideas that will assist growers and enhance agriculture throughout the state.”