VDACS Now Accepting Applications for Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program

What this means

A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

News Release

April 1, 2026

VDACS Now Accepting Applications for Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program

Charitable food assistance organizations must submit application by May 5, 2026

Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

(VDACS) is accepting applications for the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program (VAFAP). The VAFAP

program provides grants to charitable food assistance organizations to purchase Virginia Grown

agricultural products for distribution to food insecure residents in the state.

VAFAP applications should be submitted to VDACS by 5 p.m. on May 5, 2026. A total of $1.1 million in

reimbursable funding is available for this grant round.

VAFAP applicants should outline their plan to engage local farmers to purchase locally grown, minimally

processed agricultural products, and how the food items will be distributed to individuals needing food

assistance. To receive grant funding, an organization must clearly demonstrate how the project will

benefit people and families in Virginia who are food insecure.

“The Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program helps provide nutritious food to individuals and

families who might otherwise lack access, while also supporting local agriculture and the regional

community,” said VDACS Commissioner Charles Green. “Virginia farmers and agribusinesses

are compensated for harvesting, packaging, processing, or transporting agriculture products donated or

sold to food and food assistance organizations, which provides these entities with additional food

resources to serve those in need.”

A competitive review process will be used to ensure maximum input and benefit. The review panel may also

provide a recommended award amount for project proposals. VDACS will notify successful and unsuccessful

grant applicants about the outcome of the competitive process as it relates to the applicant’s proposal.

Visit www.vdacs.virginia.gov/virginia-agriculture-food-assistance-program.shtml

for more information and to apply.

Release text attributed to Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.