The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) is conducting a feasibility study for an Agricultural Enterprise Center in the central Shenandoah Valley. As part of the research, the CSPDC gathering information about the local food system and how an Agricultural Enterprise Center could assist farmers and food businesses expand production and access new markets. Potential services of the Center could include a commercial kitchen, food lab/testing kitchen, flash freeze facility, training space for smart-ag classes and seminars, a food hub that buys and sells local products, packaging and distribution operations, and business planning resources.
For purposes of the study, the CSPDC is seeking insight from the following key groups:
- Food business operators who may want to make or package products in the Center
- Farmers who may want to sell into a food hub or process/add value to their crops
- Food buyers who may be interested in purchasing local products through a food hub
NOTE: The survey study area includes the seven counties of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Page, Rockbridge, Rockingham and Shenandoah and the five cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro.
If you identify as a key stakeholder, please take this short survey. Or share with other folks in your network who are in the farming or food business.
For more information on the study and next steps, see the project webpage.
A link to the survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/shenfoodsyst
Deadline to complete the survey is October 15.