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Farmers’ markets in Bardane, Philippi and Flatwoods have been selected as the recipients of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s (WVDA) Farmers’ Market Development Grants, Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass has announced.
Upon completion of formal, binding agreements, each market will receive up to $50,000 to develop year-round markets that will support seasonal produce sales, as well as marketing of value-added, West Virginia Grown products.
“The selection committee was impressed with these three submissions. Each will provide a valuable service to their respective communities, and I think we have a nice geographic mix with these selections,” said Commissioner Douglass. “I greatly appreciate the Legislature’s funding of this initiative and its recognition of the importance of farmers’ markets to our local communities and the health of our citizens.”
The Bardane and Philippi projects will be expansions of existing markets. The Flatwoods project will be an entirely new venture, which will be located at the entrance of the Flatwoods Factory Outlet Stores, just off Interstate 79. The project application notes that the “location is the undisputed center of retail sales for the region and will take advantage of well-established traffic patterns.” Traffic passing on I-79 exceeds 29,000 vehicles a day, it also notes.
The Philippi project intends to expand the established Community Growers Market from a seasonal market to a year-round market. The Market is operated by Heart and Hand House, which works with senior citizens and limited-income residents to encourage consumption of healthy local foods.
The Bardane project seeks to capitalize upon the growing population and rising incomes in Jefferson County to benefit local agricultural producers. Planned improvements to the Market include adding a small processing facility and distribution system, along with improving technology to benefit vendors. Expansion of the Market will complement an aggressive, ongoing program by the Jefferson County Agriculture Development Office to promote, market and sustain agriculture.
Since the mid-1990s, the number of farmers’ markets in West Virginia has more than tripled. In 2008, there were more than 110 farmers’ markets and farm stands located throughout the state.
Farm demographics from the 2007 Census of Agriculture indicate that more farms are involved in direct marketing ventures. The Census showed an increase of more than 2,000 farms in the state over 2002, with most of the growth in farms of less than 150 acres. It also reported that the number of farms growing vegetables doubled in the same period. Acreage devoted to vegetable production jumped from approximately 1,700 to 2,200 acres.
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.
“The Basis of All Wealth is Agriculture.”
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