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7-31-2006

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO FOCUS ON AGRITOURISM WITH USDA GRANT

Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass announced that the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) was recently awarded a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grant for the upcoming year. Announced by Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Connor, the West Virginia grant is one of 27 matching grants provided on a competitive basis for agricultural market research and demonstration projects. The West Virginia grant project focuses on agritourism and is being conducted in cooperation with several state agencies and industry and economic development agencies. The project will further the agritourism work done by WVDA and the West Virginia Division of Tourism last year.

“The grant will disseminate agritourism resources and training tools to new and existing agritourism operators, create bound and internet versions of a state agritourism directory, develop a statewide agritourism network, promote the state’s agritourism resources and prepare a unified, long-term marketing strategy to develop the state’s agritourism sector,” said Commissioner Douglass. Commissioner Douglass also noted that the grant further strengthens the cooperative effort by the WVDA and Division of Tourism to attract visitors to rural attractions while providing economic resources back in the state’s rural communities.

“We have worked with Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver on several projects in the agritourism arena and feel that this grant will provide another cooperative opportunity to both operators and tourists to get the word out about the terrific agritourism venues available in our rural communities,” said Commissioner Douglass. “Visitors love to go back to farming and small communities to explore their roots. Our farmers and agribusinesses have discovered their appeal and are using their operations as an attraction to increase revenue.”

Several other agencies and organizations including the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals, the Jefferson County Economic Development Authority, Mountain and Potomac Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development groups, and West Virginia State University will lend their expertise in the development of project materials.

For additional information about the state’s agritourism initiative, contact WVDA Marketing and Development Director Jean Smith at (304) 558-2210.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.

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