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Brothers build Shenandoah hemp empire
Tanner Johnson, CEO of Pure Shenandoah LLC, says that his Elkton-based company is trying to bring hemp back to its Shenandoah Valley roots. After all, he explains, “back in the 1600s, this area was used heavily for hemp production and rope and clothing.” Johnson is one of four brothers behind Pure Shenandoah, which seeks to […]
Dominion Energy makes $1M donation to Virginia 4-H
Dominion Energy Inc. has donated $1 million to Virginia 4-H, a nonprofit educational program for youth hosted by Virginia Tech, the university announced Thursday. The donation marks the largest cash gift in the history of the state’s largest youth organization. Virginia 4-H educational centers serve more than 13,000 campers each summer, nearly 18,000 youth participate […]
Virginia Cattlemen’s Association names executive director
The Virginia Cattlemen’s Association (VCA) announced Dec. 29, 2020 that Brandon Reeves has been named as its executive director. Organized in 1944 and chartered in 1953, the VCA promotes Virginia’s cattle industry. Reeves is a Virginia native who grew up on his family’s beef operation in the Shenandoah Valley. Reeves earned his bachelor’s degree in […]
Help wanted
Meat, coffee creamer, frozen fruits and chocolate. These commodities represent some of the bread and butter business lines, literally, of Devon Anders’ mega storage and supply chain logistics company, which is based in Mount Crawford and has other state locations. The success of InterChange Group Inc. rises and falls on the health of the Shenandoah […]
Industrial hemp company to locate in Rockingham
Using the trade name Pure Shenandoah, Elkton-based Shenandoah Valley Hemp LLC will invest nearly $3.3 million to establish an industrial hemp fiber processing and cannabidiol (CBD) oil extraction facility in Rockingham County, creating 24 jobs. The company has committed to purchasing 100% of its industrial hemp from Virginia growers, resulting in nearly $5 million in […]
Shenandoah Valley Organic to create 110 jobs in Harrisonburg
Shenandoah Valley Organic, a family-owned organic chicken company, will establish a second, 75,000-square-foot facility in Harrisonburg, increasing production capacity and retail packaging abilities. The expansion will create 110 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. Founded by sixth-generation farmer Corwin Heatwole, Shenandoah Valley Organic mission is to partner with independent family fa[...]
SAIC claims spot on $620M USDA blanket purchase agreement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Reston-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) a position on the department’s potential five-year, $620 million Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) multiple-award blanket purchase agreement (BPA), SAIC announced Wednesday. Under the BPA, SAIC will compete for USDA task orders for IT support services f[...]
Smithfield Foods CEO to retire
Smithfield Foods Inc., the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer, announced Monday that President and CEO Kenneth M. Sullivan will retire in early 2021 after nearly 20 years with the company. Chief Operating Officer Dennis Organ will succeed Sullivan as president and CEO following his retirement. Organ joined the company in 2010 and for […]
Loudoun County Farm Fall Tour launches online Oct. 27
Loudoun County’s 25th annual Farm Fall Tour will launch online on Saturday, Oct. 27, to connect farmers with consumers for the harvest season. This year, 25 farms will be featured on the virtual farm tour. “This initiative follows a successful virtual Spring Farm Tour, which connected thousands of people from 16 countries with Loudoun farms […]
The soybean dilemma
One thing’s for certain: The one-two punch of the U.S.-China tariffs battle followed by the coronavirus pandemic has hurt farmers in Virginia. But opinions are divided on the future of agriculture and forestry in the commonwealth, and which presidential candidate has better policies to protect jobs and profits here. On the side of Democratic nominee […]
Universal Corp. completes acquisition of dehydrated foods company
Richmond-based international tobacco leaf supply company Universal Corp. announced Thursday it has completed the acquisition of Momence, Illinois-based dehydrated vegetable, fruit and herb processing company Silva International for $170 million in cash. The acquisition was previously announced in early September. Silva will operate as part of Universal’s plant-based ingredients platform, w[...]
Smithfield Foods to contest OSHA citation
Smithfield Foods Inc. intends to contest a citation from the U.S. Labor Department stating that Smithfield failed to protect workers during an April outbreak at its Sioux Falls, South Dakota, plant, where approximately 1,300 workers contracted COVID-19 and four employees died. The Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed fining the world’s larges[...]
