Virginia’s largest industry is agriculture, and it’s only getting larger. That’s according to new numbers released Tuesday. Mallory Noe-Payne was at the capitol for the announcement and filed this report.
In the past four years alone, Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries have grown by 30-percent. Governor Terry McAuliffe revealed those stats Tuesday to staff from Virginia’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“$91 billion economic impact. And you know? People always say ‘Well why do you spend so much time on ag and forestry?' And I’ll tell you why -- $91 billion worth,” said the Governor. “I want to thank all the folks here assembled who are part of ag and forestry.”
Those industries include everything from pork production to craft beer. And while the Governor says he’s worked hard promoting other industries, like cyber security, the state can’t forget its roots.
“And Ag and Forestry are critical for the continued growth and that’s why we have to continue to lean in on the family farms," McAuliffe says. "We’ve got to make sure it continues to be a family farm and that we find folks to go back and work on these farms.”
Almost 1,400 farms in Virginia have been owned by the same family for more than 100 years.
In recent years the Governor has pushed Virginia products abroad. The state now has agriculture offices in Canada, Latin America, Europe, India and China.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
