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West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass says that the Mountain State is primed for a great year of local fruit and vegetable production, a prediction that bodes well for both consumers and producers.
“Looking at recent trends, I think this year will be a great one for local produce,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “We are likely to see increased production in West Virginia, decreased production in other parts of the country, and greater market access for producers in West Virginia.”
The 2007 Census of Agriculture – released last month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) – revealed a number of positive indicators for West Virginia agriculture, including a 13.5 percent increase in the total number of farms to 23,618 compared to the 2002 Census. It also showed a doubling in the number of farms used for fresh vegetable production to 726. West Virginia remained tops in the nation in percentage of family-owned and operated farms at 95.2 percent.
Commissioner Douglass credited the gains to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s (WVDA) efforts in developing farmers’ markets and consumer demand, retirees moving to the state to put fallow land back into production, and federal dollars for the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which pumps approximately a half-million dollars into the state in the form of vouchers for eligible senior citizens.
Traditional sources of produce will likely be less appealing to consumers because of high cost or safety concerns. The Southeast U.S. expects a continuation of drought conditions, while California’s Central Valley farmers have been told to expect no irrigation water this summer because of shrinking supplies and increasing demand for urban and environmental interests. A spike in transportation costs is also possible, and consumers remain leery of the safety of foreign produce, which will carry country-of-origin labeling for the first time this year.
The upshot will be a tremendous opportunity for growers to see incomes rise significantly, and for consumers to enjoy a large selection of fresh, West Virginia Grown fruits and vegetables.
“I am encouraging everyone who is considering putting out a garden to do so. We’ll have well over 100 farmers’ markets and farm stands throughout the state, plus three new year-round markets the Department is developing in conjunction with local interests,” said Commissioner Douglass. “Demand is not a problem. Smaller markets often sell out before 9 a.m. We need more people involved in growing.”
Producers do not have to make a major commitment, according to Jean Smith, director of the WVDA’s Marketing and Development Division. They can sell or consign produce to existing market vendors, work through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) organization, or use the WVFarm2U.org website’s “virtual marketplace” to link with buyers.
“Consumer demand is definitely there for locally-grown produce, especially for varieties that were developed for flavor instead of shelf life,” said Smith. “When the time between field and fork is less than 24 hours, you don’t need a tomato that’s going to look good after two weeks in a truck or on a shelf.”
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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