Gov. Spanberger announces $4.9M into Virginia’s food supply chain
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced on Friday, February 13, 2026 (ET), that Virginia will receive more than $4. 9 million in Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grants to strengthen the state’s food processing, storage and distribution networks. Officials say the funding is intended to accelerate the conversion of raw crops into consumer goods, modernize cold-storage and delivery fleets, and expand marketing channels for specialty crops, dairy and grains.
What the RFSI grants will fund
The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) awards are targeted at projects that remove bottlenecks between farm production and consumer markets. Investments include new or upgraded processing and manufacturing equipment, refrigerated storage and transportation, and expanded aggregation or distribution capacity that can help smaller producers reach wholesale and institutional buyers.
Who will receive the money
Grant dollars will be distributed across a mix of farms, businesses, cooperatives, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations throughout the Commonwealth. State officials outlined a portfolio approach intended to spread benefits geographically and across commodity types, including specialty crops, dairy and grain producers. The program is funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture.
Local example: Jon Henry General Store in New Market
One named awardee will use RFSI funds to expand last-mile logistics. Jon Henry General Store in New Market will receive $68, 644 earmarked for equipment to add a delivery van. The store aggregates produce from more than 100 small farms in the Shenandoah Valley and plans to use the new vehicle to move fresh produce from farm pickups to new wholesale partners such as restaurants, food trucks and schools, increasing market access for small-scale growers.
Spanberger frames investment as economic development
Spanberger underscored the economic rationale for the grants, stating, “Agriculture is Virginia’s number one private industry and a foundational pillar of our Commonwealth’s economy. Supporting economic development opportunities in the industry means supporting Virginia’s farmers... ” The governor positioned the awards as both a resilience and an economic development initiative designed to keep more of the food dollar circulating in-state.
Potential impact and next steps
State leaders say the infusion of capital should shorten the time between harvest and market, reduce spoilage, and help smaller operations scale up to serve institutional buyers. Administrators will oversee grant contracts and disbursements while tracking project milestones. Observers will watch whether increased processing and distribution capacity translates into more stable supply chains and better market prices for Virginia producers and consumers.
The announcement comes as policymakers and agricultural stakeholders continue to debate ways to improve food affordability and supply resilience. For now, focus will shift to implementation: equipment purchases, new refrigerated capacity, and the logistical upgrades that proponents argue will help Virginia farms compete and grow.
