Local foods: better for us, better for the land

The Shenandoah Valley, blessed with good soils, mild weather, a diversity of products, and farmers who know how to grow them, is well suited to develop a strong local foods economy. Few regions are better equipped to provide a good share of their population's food needs.

VCC is joining with Virginia Cooperative Extension, Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development Council, Rockbridge Grown, the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Healthy Community Council, and a number of universities, farmers, markets and other vendors to help develop a stronger local food system in the Shenandoah Valley region. Local farmers who diversify their operations and take advantage of new market niches may be able to handle the economic challenges agriculture always faces.