If you are a fresh produce grower looking to upgrade, improve, or
invest in infrastructure for your business operations to meet Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
food safety standards and certifications, you may be eligible for a 33% reimbursement on your
purchases up to $5,000.
Launching this Spring 2022 to support current and new commercial produce growers in
Southwest Virginia, the FRESH START: On-Farm Produce Safety Investments from Farm
to Market is offered by the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Pumpkin Growers
Association, and sponsored by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. This project
equips produce growers to examine ways of improving or investing in infrastructure for best
food safety practices, builds understanding of the importance of GAP certification, and
introduces fundamentals of value-added processing and methods.
Eligible produce growers have the opportunity to apply these recommendations on their own
farms, and make necessary improvements or to invest in on-farm infrastructure in any of the
following categories:
● In-Field
● Worker Health & Hygiene
● Irrigation & Watering Systems
● Water Treatment & Monitoring
● Harvesting
● Post-Harvest Handling
● Facilities
● Facility Cleaning & Maintenance
● Traceability
● Cooling & Storage
● Transportation
This project supports producers in preserving existing and creating expanded market
opportunities, whether producers may be considering GAP certification for the first time,
maintaining current certification, or upgrading to the next GAP certification level. The project
also supports producers in utilizing best practices in food safety which will ensure safe food
products in the market, increase accessibility of nutritious produce, protect consumers’ health,
“This project will benefit Southwest Virginia’s produce growers by
supporting them in expanding into new markets, increasing opportunities,
and by providing consumers a safe and healthy fresh produce supply.”
Danny Peek, Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Southwest District Director
build buyer and consumer trust, enhance product freshness and quality, and benefit the produce
sector.
Produce growers who reside or operate a farm in any of the participating counties and cities are
eligible to apply: Bland, Bristol, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Galax, Grayson, Lee,
Norton, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe.
Join the Virginia Cooperative Extension on March 31 st , 2022 from 6 – 9 PM for the kickoff
training and informational session on the cost-share opportunity to learn more on how you can
apply! Please RSVP for the session at https://tinyurl.com/freshstart22.
● In-Person at two regional locations:
o Carroll County Government Center, 605 Pine Street, Hillsville, VA 24343
o Scott County Career and Technical Center, 387 Broadwater Ave, Gate City, VA
24251
● Virtual (Zoom) (https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/88257801183)
For more information or to submit an application for the cost-share opportunity, please contact
your local Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Extension Agent or visit us at
www.sites.google.com/vt.edu/freshstartgrant.
