Virginia Grown Strawberries

Virginia's Finest Program Celebrates 20 Years

The Virginia's Finest Trademark Program is proud to celebrate 20 years of excellence, promoting the development of Virginia agriculture and specialty food products. Virginia's Finest highlights top quality Virginia-produced and processed products, including produce, meats, seafood, nuts, snacks, candy and many other gourmet foods and beverages.

The Virginia's Finest Program is one of the most highly regarded marketing vehicles in the Commonwealth. It gives Virginia companies that have earned this trademark distinction of quality an advantage in the marketplace. Consumers recognize the familiar Virginia's Finest "checkmark" and trust that Virginia's Finest products have been deemed the best of the best. The Virginia's Finest Trademark Program was introduced to the world in 1989 and has grown to more than 1,000 participating agricultural, food, and beverage companies.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is highlighting the trademark program and products throughout this anniversary year. For example, the Virginia Pavilion at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade’s Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City on June 28 to 30 will give more than a dozen Virginia's Finest companies the opportunity to present their products to one of the largest international markets of retailers, restaurants, groceries, and gift and gourmet stores. September will be designated as Virginia's Finest month and VDACS is hosting a Virginia’s Finest Pavilion at the State Fair of Virginia when it premieres at its new location at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell on September 24 through October 4. For more information on Virginia's Finest and to explore the Virginia’s Finest directory, visit http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/vafinest/index.shtml

Promoting Virginia Seafood

When consumers think of agriculture, they don't always consider all of the food and fiber products that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) works to promote. Since Virginia is the nation's third largest seafood producer and the largest on America's Atlantic coast, promoting Virginia's seafood is a top priority. On Tuesday, May 26, the Virginia Marine Products Board staff, along with other employees from the VDACS Marketing Division sponsored a buyers' tour for restaurant chefs interested in finding local suppliers of Virginia seafood. The chefs had the opportunity to meet with Virginia watermen and see how various marine products are harvested, processed, and prepared for sale. To learn more about Virginia seafood, please visit the Virginia Marine Products Board's excellent Web site http://www.virginiaseafood.org/ listing recipes, seafood festivals, and where to buy locally harvested Virginia seafood products.