NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Va. — Northampton County has been awarded a $50,000 state grant to support development of Pearl Market, a shared-use food hub and aquaculture processing facility designed to serve multiple agricultural producers on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
The funding is part of more than $507,000 in Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Infrastructure Grants announced by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. Fourteen Virginia localities received grants for projects aimed at expanding markets for local producers and strengthening local food systems.
The Northampton County grant will support infrastructure improvements at Pearl Market needed to meet health and safety standards and accommodate multiple producers. Funding also will help pay for equipment, including refrigeration systems and food-processing equipment.
The facility is intended to give agricultural and aquaculture producers shared access to specialized equipment and processing space, allowing them to prepare products for sale and potentially reach additional customers.
“The success of Virginia agriculture depends on the ability of all farmers across the Commonwealth to succeed,” Spanberger said in announcing the awards. “These infrastructure grants are extremely beneficial for the state’s small and mid-size farms, helping to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers.”
Spanberger said investments in local food infrastructure can both support Virginia agriculture and improve communities’ access to locally produced food.
The Northampton County project is among a diverse group of projects receiving funding across Virginia. Other grants will support animal and wood-products processing facilities, commercial kitchens, a shared-use cannery, a farmers market, a creamery expansion, a produce packing facility and a new regional livestock marketing complex.
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier said the projects share the goal of improving and diversifying market access for producers.
“By growing markets and expanding the customer base, these projects spur economic development, encourage entrepreneurship, and help create new jobs in rural areas of the state,” Frazier said.
She said investments in cold storage, transportation networks and processing facilities can also reduce food waste, lower costs and make local food systems more resilient.
The AFID Infrastructure Grant Program is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It provides reimbursable grants to Virginia localities for projects including farmers markets, food aggregation and distribution operations, regional food marketing organizations and locally owned processing facilities.
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