CULLEN—After years in the making, the Southside Virginia Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association is opening a new facility to help local growers reach new markets.

The new 2,700-square-foot warehouse in Charlotte County will allow farmers to aggregate their produce, streamline distribution, expand marketing efforts and reach larger buyers, said Joanne Jones, Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Charlotte.

While smaller farms may not produce enough to sell wholesale individually, “together they have enough product to reach these bigger buyers like Class Produce Group,” said Jones, who has worked closely with the SVFVPA.

Growers can bring their produce to the facility, where it will be aggregated, wrapped on pallets and transported on SVFVPA’s refrigerated and box trucks to buyers. The warehouse features a large walk-in cooler, with a second one planned to increase capacity.

“Growers will be able to store their produce in the coolers until it ships out, giving it a longer shelf life,” Jones explained. “There also are ice machines for produce that needs to be iced down, like corn and broccoli.”

The association and its new facility were made possible through grants and donations from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program and Virginia State University. Since the association’s inception in 2018, Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability has helped it secure over $739,000 in state and federal funding.

“We’re thrilled to see this come together,” said Whitney Perkins, VA FAIRS’ assistant director. “This will strengthen the rural economy and help ensure the future of fruit and vegetable production in Southside Virginia.”

Beyond attracting more large wholesale buyers, the facility also will serve midsize markets like the Shenandoah Valley Produce Auction in Dayton. Encompassing markets of all sizes benefits both large and small growers, Jones noted.
“We want to make sure we’re not leaving anybody out,” she said.

Future plans include utilizing the facility’s retail storefront space, where SVFVPA producers can sell extra produce directly to consumers.

Currently, the SVFVPA has 22 member farms across eight neighboring counties that will use the new facility. As the group expands its reach and secures new markets, more growers will likely join the association, Jones said.

In addition to developing marketing opportunities and expanding local growers’ profitability, the association is committed to giving back. They partner with farm-to-school programs to provide fresh, healthy food for students and host educational sessions on how food is grown.

The SVFVPA will host an open house on Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees can explore the new facility, learn more about the association and preview its programs and future initiatives. To learn more or RSVP, contact the Charlotte County Cooperative Extension Office at 434-542-5884 or kfj21@vt.edu.

Media: Contact Jones at 434-542-5884 or Perkins at 804-290-1155.