Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has issued a proclamation declaring June 13–19 as Virginia Agriculture Week To acknowledge the contributions of the state’s agricultural group. Northam and his spouse, Pamela, As properly as to completely different officers in his administration will go to websites all by way of Virginia To spotlight the financial influence of the agriculture enterprise and the position of farmers and agricompanies in offering Virginia meals and merchandise.

“Agriculture has On A daily basis been And might proceed to be The inspiration for progress and prosperity in rural And concrete communities throughout the Commonwealth,” said Northam. “As Virginia’s largest private enterprise, the agricultural sector contributes $70 billion to our financial system Yearly and employs Greater than 334,000 Virginians. This Virginia Agriculture Week, We’re proud to showcase The differ of Virginia’s agriculture group and the exhausting work, innovation, and success of our farmers and agricompanies.”

Particular occasions all by way of the week will embrace go tos to Pretty a Little bit of farming operations, agriculture evaluation and know-how hubs, native meals methods, and agricompanies.

“Virginia’s agricultural group has gone above and past To shield the well being of consumers and their staff and modify enterprise fashions to proceed operations, maintaInside the meals current chain, and attain new audiences,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “Virginia Agriculture Week currents An alternative to rejoice the farms, households, companies, and communities that assist Virginia’s agriculture enterprise and the resiliency proven Through the COVID-19 pandemic and past.”

With Greater than 44,000 farms, Virginia has A pair of of The numerous agricultural sectors Inside the nation – from conventional farming and forestry operations to processing, award-worthwhile wineries and craft beverage manufacturing, metropolis agriculture, agritourism operations, and extra.

“Agriculture stays The inspiration of Virginia’s financial system,” said Brad Copenhaver, commissioner of the Virginia Division of Agriculture and Shopper Providers. “Collectively with producing meals, fiber, and gasoline, agriculture currents many completely different advantages, Similar to recreation, tourism, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, land preservation, flood mitigation, improved water extreme quality, and soil stabilization. Permit us to rejoice the contributions of farmers, farm households, and agricompanies to our on A daily basis lives and as stewards of our land, water, and completely different pure assets.”

State officers are encouraging Virginians to rejoice Virginia Agriculture Week by thanking a farmer Inside their communities and by buying for native Virginia Grown and Virginia’s Best meals and merchandise. Visit VirginiaGrown.com To Search out Virginia-produced agriculture and specialty meals and beverage merchandise.