Reading The Virginia Market News

The Virginia Market News is provided by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to media outlets. They collect and report daily agriculture market prices and analyses for Virginia farmers, buyers, and the Virginia consumer. The Virginia Market News also offers booklets and other brochures to help you get or keep informed about Virginia farm products and produce.

Always curious, I chose peanuts and then poultry. Peanuts because I can't get enough of them and poultry because any food I like that much and comes with so many warning and scare stories (I keep seeing an egg stuck in a major artery causing a heart attack) is must reading.

Virginia's peanuts are inspected and graded at nearly 70 different locations in southeastern Virginia. These inspections determine the quality and are used to determine grower compensation and disposition of the crop. After they have been cleaned and shelled and separated into graded lots the peanuts are inspected for adherence to USDA grade standards . Inspectors supervise the identification of these lots as they are prepared for sale. They also sample and inspect these peanuts for grade and adherence to the marketing agreement. Sample peanuts? My mouth waters. While I am dreaming and reaching for a Jumbo Peanut, the next sentence hits me. The presence of aflatoxin. And "it takes a fully equipped laboratory is located in Suffolk to provide same day results for clients requiring this certification". After more reading and more peanuts I find that there is really nothing to worry about. I celebrate by eating even more peanuts and reading about poultry.

Poultry and shell eggs are graded based on USDA Quality standards. The fact that grading is voluntary and has to be paid for by the processors is reflected in the fact that only 80 percent of the turkeys, 60 percent of the chickens and 40 percent of the eggs we eat are officially graded according to USDA Grade Standards. Poultry certification is verifying that poultry and egg purchases through food procurement contracts meet requirements for such things as quality, condition, storage, and transportation. Again, voluntary and paid for by the processors. However, don't worry, even if not graded or certified, all poultry is inspected by the government.

For Virginia consumers that want to "buy Virginia" look for the "Virginia's Finest" trademark. The Virginia's Finest Trademark Program was developed to identify and promote top quality Virginia produced agricultural products from fresh produce to hams, peanuts, and wine. Virginia's Finest is easily identified by a red and blue "checkmark." Participation in the quality-based trademark program is voluntary and open to all Virginia agricultural producers and food processors that consistently meet specific quality standards. Quality standards used in the program are established by industries, agricultural groups and similar representatives and are approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

As a final note, for those suffering long nights of insomnia, grab some Virginia peanuts, a bottle of "Virginia's Finest" wine and the Virginia Market News booklet "Potato and Vegetable Review". You will be asleep in no time or having such a great time learning about the potato you won't care.