FSWG Resource

1. For Immediate Release:
New study shows West Virginia’s food economy has ample room to grow
Contact: Savanna Lyons, s.lyons@wvhub.org, 304.673.0053
Famous for its rugged hills, West Virginia has enough fertile farmland to supply its own residents with
all their fresh fruit and vegetable needs during the growing season – and to stimulate new jobs and
millions of dollars in local sales.
According to a groundbreaking study recently released by Downstream Strategies, LLC, West Virginia
University and the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, if West Virginia farmers grew enough fruits
and vegetables to meet the in-season fresh produce needs of all state residents, such a shift would also
generate 1,723 new jobs and contribute an additional $ 35.7 million in local sales.
The study, “West Virginia Food System Assessment: Seasonal Production and its Impacts” also finds
that growing the produce would require less than 10% of West Virginia’s undeveloped prime farmland.
“According to our study, if West Virginians bought their fruits and vegetables from local farmers during
the growing season, about $190 million would stay in the state instead of flowing beyond its borders,”
explains explained Downstream Strategies President Evan Hansen. “These locally spent dollars would
circulate in the economy as farmers spend more at supply stores and on other goods and services.”
Support in growing West Virginia’s food economy is evidenced by the rapid growth in statewide
farmers markets, which has more than doubled in the past decade.
“By understanding the revenue-generating potential of meeting our own produce needs during the
growing season, we hope this study will stimulate conversation about further supporting West Virginia
agriculture,” said Savanna Lyons, Program Manager for the WV Food & Farm Coalition. “Many people
think our state doesn’t have enough farmland to grow a significant portion of its own food, but we are
very agriculturally productive, and have plenty of room to grow.” The study’s authors also emphasize
the importance of protecting the state’s existing prime farmland from non-agricultural uses, and the
importance of encouraging new produce farmers as well as the growth of existing farms.
The study was released at the recent “Road Map for the Food Economy” event in Bridgeport and
provides a research base for the West Virginia Food Charter to help focus and measure West Virginia’s

2. progress towards a stronger local food system.
This is the first study in a multi-part series funded through the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition by
the blue moon fund. The next phase of the study will address, among other things, local distribution of
fruits, vegetables and meats to WV consumers.
To read the complete report please visit:
http://www.downstreamstrategies.com/documents/reports_publication/ds_food_system_report_final.pdf