VIRGINIA PRODUCE COMPANY INC. EXPANDING IN CARROLL COUNTY
Project Will Add 33 Jobs
Richmond, VA – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Virginia Produce Company Inc. will expand operations at its produce packing facility in Hillsville. The expansion is expected to produce 33 new jobs and $650,000 in capital investment over three years. Production of over-wrapped produce will double over the next three years and result in a significant increase in Virginia-grown produce purchases.
The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission supported this project with a $96,000 Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund grant and a $47,500 Opportunity Fund loan.
Tobacco Commission member, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden said, “This new investment by Virginia Produce Company represents another positive step for Virginia as we reinforce our reputation as a quality produce grower. I am pleased the Commonwealth could partner with Carroll County through the AFID Program to continue to support this local business. We are lucky to have an innovative company like Virginia Produce Company as a member of the agriculture community in Virginia.”
Tobacco Commission member, Senator Bill Stanley added, “The expansion at Virginia Produce is great news for Carroll County and our region. A project that will create this number of new jobs is particularly noteworthy and I’m pleased that the Tobacco Commission chose to support this project.”
VPC was founded in 2002 by Moir Beamer with a goal of providing high quality local produce to retail and wholesale grocery markets through a network of farms that are managed with VPC’s assistance. At its inception, Beamer worked with Carroll County farmers to grow specifically the items that the market demanded. The close relationships developed between growers and the processer/wholesaler led to a successful expansion in the number of farmers and the land acreage participating in VPC’s farm-management program; more than twenty Virginia farms in and around Carroll County now supply VPC. The company regularly holds grower meetings to bring on new farmers. Recently, the company has made an intensive and targeted effort to bring on farmers from Southside Virginia.
President of Virginia Produce Company, Moir Beamer, said “We are pleased to again be expanding our business operations in Carroll County. Not only will this allow us to better serve our customers, we are creating important new market opportunities for our Virginia producers. We appreciate the continued assistance we have received from the Commonwealth, Carroll County and the Tobacco Commission.”
Carroll County Administrator, Steve Truitt added, “Today’s announcement is another example of how VDACS works closely with our local Carroll government and our entrepreneurs. This team effort opens new markets for Virginia-grown produce and bring new jobs to Carroll County. We are really excited to help facilitate this grant for Virginia produce and are doubly pleased to say that we are already seeing the benefits of the grants right behind us in VA Produce’s facility in the form of new production lines and new employees.”
The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission is committed to developing a diverse economy in the areas we serve. Supporting successful companies that wish to expand within the tobacco region, like Virginia Produce, is an important part of this process.
Contact: Jordan Butler
Telephone: 804-786-7692
Cell: 757-692-0878
Email: jbutler@revitalizeva.org
Website: www.revitalizeva.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/19/2017