2022 Virginia FAIRS Innovation Challenge

Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VAFAIRS) is hosting its new Agricultural and Forestry Innovation Challenge, a business pitch competition for rural Virginia!

Applications are being accepted now until 11:59pm September 15 from individuals and businesses with new and innovative business ideas, services or products with application in the agriculture and forestry industries both rural and urban settings.
Possible entries include new products, technologies or services, process improvements, establishment of new markets or food and fiber systems that could have a positive impact here in Virginia.
Winners can take home up to $15,000 in cash; up to a total of $30,000 is available to win.

The Challenge is also known as the Bull Pen. Full contest details can be found at www.vafairs.com/bullpen. Visit VAFAIRS website to find out more about VAFAIRS.

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Nominate a local business for VRLTA's Ordinary Award!

Virginia Restaurant Lodging Travel Association (VRLTA) Ordinary Award nominations are now open! The Ordinary Awards celebrate and honor all of Virginia’s restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries, and lodging establishments. Nominators and award winners do not have to be a VRLTA member. Visit www.ordinaryawards.com for more information and to nominate your favorite Goochland business! Nominations close August 25th.

Calling All Restaurants - List Your Restaurant for FREE on Virginia.org!

Did you know that Virginia.org offers free listings to drive traffic to your restaurant?
To add your business or event to Virginia.org, please register for an account here.
Contact Robin Mamunes at rmamunes@virginia.org with questions.

International Market Research

Need to find trusted partners or learn about the latest regulations? Save time and resources by letting Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) do the research for you. VEDP’s team of international research consultants covers more than 85 countries around the world. These experts provide valuable in-country market research that is specific to your product or service, such as calculating tariffs, conducting due diligence, and arranging appointments with potential distributors and customers. Reach out to VEDP for more information!

Business Spotlight!

Each month we will spotlight a Goochland business!
Haashrooms

Haashrooms is a 65-acre mushroom farm in Goochland, owned and operated by Steve and Elizabeth Haas. Haashrooms was founded in 2010. Haashrooms is dedicated to using the whole fruit body in all products and providing the highest quality, organic and fair trade ingredients. Haashrooms produces a wide variety of products including, mushroom coffee, powders, tea blends, seasonings, and skincare products. All products are handcrafted in small batches.

Owner and grower, Steve Haas, is a wild mushroom/wild plant expert of 30 years and leads year round guided mushroom hunts in this region and around the world, with the hope to teach others how to identify and locate wild edible foods.

Elizabeth, the producer of the Forage Skincare line, is a certified aesthetician and market gardener who formulates each product with Steve to offer optimal health benefits and natural remedies. Their goal is to create products that showcase these health benefits through the miracle of mushrooms and foraged plants.

Haashrooms also offers local mushroom foraging hunts. Check out their wide variety of local grown offerings on the web at www.haashrooms.com.

Looking to Grow in Goochland?

Check out available building and sites in Goochland to grow your business and give us a call to chat!

Image Credit: Tea Montagna, 2015

Preserving our Roots:
Agri-Businesses in Goochland

Article submitted by Nicole Shuman, Goochland's Agriculture Extension Agent.

Last month, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services expanded the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine area from Frederick, Warren and Clarke counties, and the City of Winchester to include the following localities: Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Staunton, Waynesboro, Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, and Wythe. This invasive insect isn’t in Goochland… yet.

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is very damaging to a number of economically important horticultural crops, like wine grapes. I encourage everyone to learn to identify this insect, and to report any potential sightings to your local Extension Office. You can learn to identify SLF here: https://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/commercial-horticulture/spotted-lanternfly.html

SLF is happy to lay its eggs on pretty much any surface. When plants, plant parts, and other goods are transported, the eggs can come along for the ride. Thus, certain regulations apply to the quarantine area. There are no restrictions on goods or regulated items moving into the quarantine area from outside, or on their movement within the quarantine area. Homeowners should inspect household goods that are stored outside and complete a Spotted Lanternfly Checklist prior to moving these items out of the quarantine area. Businesses who transport regulated items out of the quarantine area must be permitted and complete inspections prior to transport. Business that transport goods through the quarantine area between April 1 and December 31 do not need to be permitted, provided that they do not stop for reasons other than refueling and traffic. More information is available here: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ento-319/ENTO-512.pdf

Please contact the Goochland Extension Office if you would like more information on the Spotted Lanternfly.

Upcoming Events & Training

The Capital Region Small Business Development Center Goochland Office hours were a huge hit! We have added another date in September! The Capital Region SBDC offers FREE and confidential business guidance.