June 23, 2025
Celebrate the Commonwealth’s Agricultural Producers During Virginia Agriculture Week
~ Public encouraged to thank Virginia farmers and purchase local agricultural products ~
Governor Glenn Youngkin has proclaimed June 22 — 28, 2025 as Virginia Agriculture Week. The recognition highlights the Commonwealth’s largest private industry, celebrates Virginia’s agricultural producers for their steadfast dedication, and increases the public’s awareness in support of this vitally important industry.
“Agriculture contributes over $82 billion to Virginia’s economy, provides an additional $43 billion in value-added impact, and generates over 381,000 jobs throughout the Commonwealth,” said Governor Youngkin. “We celebrate this vibrant industry during Virginia Agriculture Week. For more than four centuries, agriculture has played an essential role in the Commonwealth, providing nourishment, protection, growth, health, and vitality for all Virginians.”
Virginia farmers produce a diverse selection of agricultural food products to include livestock, field crops, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and aquaculture. In addition, Virginia agriculture includes horses, lumber and wood products, wool and cotton fiber, bedding and garden plants, Christmas trees, tobacco, sod, foliage plants and cut flowers.
“Virginia is home to approximately 39,000 farms on more than 7.3 million acres of farmland across the Commonwealth. An astounding 95 percent of these farms are owned and operated by families who work hard to provide food for our tables and other ag products in fuel and fiber that we use every day,” said Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “I hope all Virginians will take time this week to thank our state’s farmers and support our local economies by buying Virginia grown and processed products this and every week.”
Virginia agricultural production is one of the most diverse in the nation with many of the state’s commodities and products ranking in the top ten among all U.S. states. The Commonwealth ranks third nationally for seafood landings and leaf tobacco, fifth for apples, sixth for turkeys, eighth for peanuts, and ninth for broilers measured in head and pounds.
“From barbecued chicken, juicy steaks, oysters, fluffy scrambled eggs, sweet strawberries, peanut butter sandwiches, steamed crabs, corn on the cob, ice-cold milk, country ham, to local wine, spirits, beer, and more, you can thank a Virginia farmer for all the planting, growing, cultivating and harvesting it took to put it on your table,” said Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Joseph Guthrie. “Virginia Agriculture Week is the perfect time to thank and show our support for local family farm businesses.”
Consumers can identify locally grown and locally produced agricultural products by looking for Virginia Grown and Virginia’s Finest logos on products ranging from produce to meats, snacks, sauces, craft beverages, and more. Consumers can visit their local farmers market or roadside stand for some of the freshest, best tasting food available, or find a local retailer by searching https://vagrown.vdacs.virginia.gov. Virginia’s Finest specialty food and beverages can be searched at https://vafinest.vdacs.virginia.gov/.