Old Dominion Resource Conservation & Development Council, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Prince Edward County co-hosted an informational meeting on establishing a Buy Fresh, Buy Local Chapter to serve the Central and Southside Virginia region on Jan. 19.

More than 120 local food producers, retailers, consumers and other interested parties from 12 counties  including Halifax, Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward attended the meeting held at the Southside Virginia Community College Workforce Development Center in Keysville.

Prince Edward County Extension Agent Eric Bowen opened the meeting with a presentation on “Local Foods:  Why and What Is Happening,” and Prince Edward County Planner Alecia Daves-Johnson spoke about the “Buy Fresh Buy Local” program and its many benefits to the community.

Mary K. Whitmer, program assistant for the Old Dominion Resource Conservation & Development Council, explained the RC&D’s lead role in the application process and the development of the chapter.

The presentations were followed by a lively facilitated session led by Martha Walker, community viability specialist for Virginia Cooperative Extension, which enabled the attendees to participate in discussions about how a “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” chapter would bring economic and employment benefits to Southside and Central Virginia.