Virginia Food Systems Resilience Report
The Virginia Food Systems Resilience Report summarizes findings from statewide listening sessions and stakeholder engagement focused on strengthening Virginia's food system. The report highlights challenges, opportunities, and recommendations related to farm viability, food access, local supply chains, workforce development, and community resilience.
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Minority & Veteran Farmers of the Piedmont encourages producers, community partners, and local food advocates to review this report. Several recommendations align with MVFP's mission to strengthen farm viability, expand market opportunities, improve food access, and support resilient local food systems throughout Virginia.
What This Report Means for Farmers
Virginia's food system is changing. Extreme weather, supply chain disruptions, rising costs, labor shortages, and shifting markets continue to create challenges for farms of all sizes. The recently released Virginia Food Systems Resilience Report 2026 highlights what farmers, food businesses, nonprofits, researchers, and community leaders across the Commonwealth believe is needed to build a stronger and more resilient food system.
For Minority & Veteran Farmers of the Piedmont, several key takeaways stand out.
1. Small and Mid-Sized Farms Are Essential to Virginia's Future
One of the strongest messages from stakeholders was that resilient food systems depend on economically viable small and mid-sized farms. Participants emphasized the need for continued support through technical assistance, access to capital, succession planning, and market development opportunities.
What this means:
Programs supporting small farm viability are likely to receive increased attention.
There is growing recognition that local farms are critical infrastructure.
Farmers should continue pursuing business planning, financial management, and succession planning resources.
2. More Institutional Markets May Be Opening
The report repeatedly identifies farm-to-school, farm-to-hospital, and other institutional purchasing opportunities as priorities for Virginia. Stakeholders want to see stronger connections between producers and large buyers that can provide consistent demand for local products.
What this means:
Schools, hospitals, universities, and food access programs may become increasingly important customers.
Producers interested in wholesale or institutional sales should begin preparing for larger-volume opportunities.
Building relationships now with food hubs and distributors may create future market advantages.
3. Farmers Need More Shared Infrastructure
Farmers across Virginia identified a need for additional processing facilities, aggregation centers, cold storage, commercial kitchens, equipment sharing, and workforce housing. These investments help reduce risk and improve farm profitability.
What this means:
Cooperative approaches may become more common.
New infrastructure funding opportunities could emerge.
Regional partnerships can help individual farms access resources that would otherwise be too expensive.
4. Local Branding and Marketing Matter
Participants emphasized strengthening regional food branding and helping consumers better understand the value of buying local food. The report also recommends expanded marketing support and consumer education efforts.
What this means:
Storytelling about your farm matters.
Social media and direct customer relationships remain valuable.
Programs that connect consumers directly with producers are expected to grow.
5. Food Access Programs Can Benefit Both Farmers and Communities
The report highlights programs such as the Adopt-A-Farmer Family Farm Box Initiative, which simultaneously supports local farms and provides healthy food to underserved households. Stakeholders saw these programs as an important part of Virginia's resilience strategy.
What this means:
Food access initiatives can provide new market opportunities.
Partnerships with nonprofits and community organizations may create stable sales channels.
Farmers can play a direct role in improving food security while strengthening their businesses.
6. Farmland Preservation Is Becoming Increasingly Important
As development pressures continue across Virginia, stakeholders emphasized protecting farmland and supporting the next generation of farmers through land access and succession planning.
What this means:
Farmland preservation programs may expand.
Succession planning should be a priority for established producers.
Beginning farmers may benefit from future land access initiatives.
7. Relationships Are a Key Part of Resilience
One of the report's central findings is that resilience is built through relationships. Strong networks between farmers, consumers, nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and businesses make rural communities better prepared to respond to challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
What this means:
Attend local meetings and networking events.
Build relationships with other producers.
Engage with organizations that support agriculture and food systems development.
Looking Ahead
The report's recommendations point toward a future where local and regional food systems play an even larger role in Virginia's economy and communities. Increased investment in farm viability, infrastructure, institutional purchasing, and food system coordination could create meaningful opportunities for minority, veteran, and beginning farmers across the Commonwealth.
Strong farms build strong communities, and resilient food systems start with the farmers who grow our food every day.
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