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.

Spring 2009 Workshop Schedule

According to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, the total impact of agriculture in Virginia is over a $55 billion dollars, creating over 357,000 total jobs. Just since 2005, the number of Virginia farmers markets has increased from 88 to over 140, an approximate 62% increase. Today, consumers are demanding more and more local food, and many food entrepreneurs and farmers are trying to keep up with this growing demand.

March 30

Day 1 - Inspections and Food Safety:

Day I- Monday, March 30, 2009

7:45am to 8:45am- Sign-in & registration

8:45am to 9am- Welcome

9:00am to 9:30am- Keynote Address: "Developing an Innovative Food-based Business Model"

Joe Cloud, T&E Meats, Harrisonburg Virginia

9:30am to 10:30am- Health Department Regulations that Govern a Food-based Business

            Archer Campbell, Albemarle County Department of Health

            Jillian Davis, Virginia Cooperative Extension

10:30am to 10:50am- Break

10:50am to 12:30am- Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS) Regulations that Govern a Food-based Business

            John Beers, Paula Vile, and Kate Weakley, VDACS

12:30pm to 1:30pm- Lunch

1:30pm to 2:30pm- Food Entrepreneurship & Product Testing Opportunities

            Joell Eifert, Virginia Tech

2:30pm to 3:30pm- Food Safety & GAPS Certification

            Rob Williams, Virginia Tech

            Tom Smith, VDACS

3:30pm to 3:45pm- Break

3:45pm to 4:45pm- Q&A session with panel of experts from earlier sessions w/ producer experts joining

4:45pm to 5pm- Wrap-up & Adjourn

April 6

Day 2 - Business and Marketing:

Day 2- Monday, April 6, 2009

7:45am to 8:45am- Sign-in & registration

8:45am to 9am- Welcome

9am to 10am-Keynote Address: "The Changing Landscape: Food & Agriculture Business and Markets"

            Andy Hankins, Virginia State University

10am to 11am- Food-based Business Start-Up, Product Costing/Pricing & Writing a Business Plan

Nora Gillespie, Central Virginia Small Business Development Center

11am to 11:20am- Break

11:20am to 12:15am- Risk Management- Business Product Liability & Insurance

Jesse Richardson, Virginia Tech

12:15pm to 1:15pm- Lunch

1:15pm to 2:00pm- Panel Discussion: Marketing Opportunities for Virginia's Agriculture & Value-AddedFood Producers

Melissa Willey, Piedmont Environmental Council (Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign)

Charles Green, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

2:00pm to 3:15pm- Panel Discussion "Learning from The Field: Marketing Local Grown Products"

Michael Clark, Planet Earth Diversified

Corey Childs, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Susan Swales, Wild Oats Farm

& Others

3:15pm to 3:30pm- Break

3:45pm to 4:45pm- Panel Discussion: "How to Cultivate Food Retail & Value-Addes Opportunities"

Kate Collier, Feast

Ryan Ford, The Organic Butcher

Daniel Perry, Jam According to Daniel

& Others

4:45pm to 5pm- Wrap-up & Adjourn