WVDA Announces Additional Specialty Crop Funding Opportunity

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is now accepting applications for the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant H.R. 133 Stimulus Program. The program is in addition to the annual Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and was awarded by the United States Congress due to COVID-19 impacts on the food system. West Virginia is expected to receive …

Op Ed: For the Sake of Our Economy and Competitiveness, Tax Changes Must be Scrutinized

We cannot tax ourselves into prosperity, but that is exactly what some in Congress think we can and should do. While talks around infrastructure and the “Build Back Better Plan” should bring significant investment to communities throughout West Virginia, ideas for how to pay for these packages are concerning. Fortunately, there are lawmakers who are taking a slow-and-steady approach to …

WVDA, WVDE Announce New Farm to School Logo

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As National Farm to School Month concludes, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) jointly announced a new logo for farm to school efforts in the Mountain State. The student-selected logo represents a greater commitment from the WVDA, WVDE and the Farm to School Alliance to expand branding, educational …

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg: Whole, Fresh Onions (October 2021)

FDA and CDC are investigating illnesses linked to whole, fresh onions. Do not eat, sell, or serve certain onions from ProSource Inc. The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to whole, fresh onions. FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified ProSource Produce, LLC (also known as ProSource Inc.) …

West Virginia Receives More Than $280,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grants

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Six West Virginia projects will share in $284,618.10 of federal funding under the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) in 2021. These projects were chosen from ten West Virginia organizations, agencies and institutions who requested a total of $404,610. Recipients must use the federal funding to enhance the production, processing and …