It's been a whirlwind of a month with W.Va. Small Farm Conference, WV Local Food and Farms Day @ The Capitol, the beginning of legislative session, and meetings and events in the New and Greenbrier River Foodshed. Although the month of February brought busy times and a very unwelcome and worrisome spring, reuniting with our food and farm community from across the state energizes and inspires us to continue the work we do. 

Highlights:
- Met over 30 young & beginning farmers at W.Va. Small Farm Conference who are determined to build a viable farm business in West Virginia. 

- WV Food Justice Lab and the WV Food & Farm Coalition presented findings from the WV Farm Market Viability Pilot Study, "Bringing Our Foodsheds into Focus" at W.Va. Small Farm Conference. 

-  WV Local Food and Farms Day @ The Capitol brought together over 70 people in support of a resilient and equitable local food system for West Virginia. 

- Identified several new champions at the legislature to support the WV Food & Farm Coalition's policy platform and the work of the food and farm community. 

-And, many, many more.

Thank you for your continued support, perseverance, passion, and friendship. We cannot build a resilient and equitable local food system for West Virginia without you and this community. 

Be in touch,

West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition
FOOD AND FARM EVENTS
Visit our events calendar:  http://wvfoodandfarm.org/news-media/events

SAVE THE DATE: Food & Farm Gathering: An Evening with the Commissioner of Agriculture on March 17, 2017 6PM - 9PM in Fairmont, WV

Hear from special guests, Kent Leonhardt and Joe Hatton, from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture about the WVDA's vision for food and agriculture in West Virginia. Our guests will be taking questions during a q&a session. RSVP here. Have a question you would like to ask the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner? Submit your question(s) here.  More information to follow.
Navigating a Treacherous Landscape: A Practitioner's Guide to GAP Food Safety Certification and the Food Safety Modernization Act (Part II)
Coffee Talk Webinar
March 2nd at 1-2pm

In this follow up webinar, Lindsay Gilmour will be joined by Jeff Stoltzfus, Food Safety Educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension. They will look at two contrasting farming scenarios and discuss the steps they are taking to comply with customer and FDA requirements and will take questions on GAP Food Safety and FSMA. Click here to register.
5 Day-Long Agritourism Initiative Training Program in Moorefield, WV and Online Begins on March 4th


The WVU Extension Service, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and other key industry experts will engage participants in a series of training sessions in areas like 'the business side of agritourism', risk-management, marketing, hospitality management, and business collaborations.  The classes are offered online or in Spencer, WV at the  Eastern WV Community and Technical College, Moorefield, WV.
To register,  contact the WVU-Roane County Extension Service at 304-927-0975 and speak to agriculture and natural resources extension agent, Brandy Brabham.

FREE Post Harvest Workshop
March 7th at 9am-3pm
East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center- Organic Crops Unit in Knoxville,TN 

Join us for a day-long workshop where we will unveil our newly renovated packinghouse and focus on post harvest management practices that can help you get the longest shelf-life for your products, while making sure all the food safety boxes are checked. In addition to learning the best post harvest management practices, participants will leave with a grower kit valued at more than $300 to help you implement what you learned when you get back to the farm! You must register here by March 1st.
Appalachia Grows Small Farm Conference on 
March 17 - 18th in 
Cumberland, MD

Anyone interested in farming, producing food or farm products, currently farming and want to expand or diversify, or just wanting to learn from experts!  Participants will have a choice of sessions on agriculture marketing topics. There will also be great opportunities for networking at the vendor tables, Winter Farmers Market and at the Taste of Appalachia.  Register  here  by  March 9th .
Growing Cucurbits Class
March 30th at 6pm - 8:30pm
Appalachian Harvest in Duffield, VA

The class will cover pests, disease and control measures for both conventional and organic to increase wholesale quality, as well as a FSMA introduction.  If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Katie Commender at [email protected] by March 20th. 
F ungal Pharmacopeia: A Medicinal Mushroom Intensive Workshop
May 27-28th
Sharondale Farm, Cismont, VA

Join us for a hands-on activity filled workshop exploring mushrooms as medicine for personal and community health.  Read more and register here .
Try This West Virginia Conference
June 2-3 in Buckhannon, WV

Two-day conference is fueled by West Virginians inspiring West Virginians to get our state off the worst health lists.  The conference includes 40 "how-to" sessions, healthy eating and lifestyle ideas and projects, mini-grants for healthy-community projects, and a rocking good time. To register or get more information click here.
Biological Farming Workshops: Principles & Practices of Biological Management- Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio

Two-day course provides an overview of the principles and practices of biological farming. Our goal is to build upon your knowledge and experience to find ways to increase the health of your soil and crops for greater yields, healthier produce and better marketability. Learn more and register  here .
SAVE THE DATE: NC Choices- Pastured Pork and Poultry Walk, Paddock Demo & Intensive for Beginning and Transitioning Farmers 
April 20, 2017 at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina 

"This interactive workshop is taught by leading farmers, educators, and researchers; and provides comprehensive niche meat training from pasture to sale for beginning and transitioning farmers. Producers will learn about pasture management techniques including rotational grazing, mobile units, and paddock demos for pork and poultry, nutrition and feeding guidelines including when to use alternative feeds, how to determine markets and scale, and liability requirements and coverage." Registration opens here on February 1, 2017.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

No Deadline



Deadline: March 5th, 2017

Deadline: March 27, 2017
Deadline: March 27, 2017
JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Deadline: March 15, 2017

Open Until Filled

Deadline: April 29th

No Deadline

Open Until Filled
No Deadline
FOOD AND FARM RESOURCES
Visit our free library:  http://wvfoodandfarm.org/resources/

Press Release: WV SUN Helps Agricultural Producers Go Solar.  Read the full press release here .
Fruit & Vegetable Farmer Survey: Farmer Perspectives on Nutrition Incentives & Farm to School Programs.  The survey will take between 20 and 30 minutes to complete, and if you complete the survey, you can choose a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Johnny's Selected Seeds. Take the survey here, or contact Megan Lehnerd,  [email protected].
FOOD AND FARM POLICY CORNER
State and National Policy Page:  http://wvfoodandfarm.org/initiatives/policy/



The West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition's 2017 Legislative Issues Packet is now available online. Read it here.
Take the National Young Farmers Coalition's Young Farmers Survey here. Your answers will directly inform NYFC's work on the 2018 farm bill and beyond.  Deadline to submit your responses is March 5th.
NSAC Blog Post: "Congressional Hearings Kick Off Farm Bill and Appropriations Season". Read the blog post here.
Support the WV Food & Farm Coalition!
Your support will further our work to make local food more viable in West Virginia.