{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/commonwealth-connection/virginia-grown", "Virginia Grown", "2013-12-16", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Monday, December 16, 2013\n\t\t\t\t Virginia Grown \n\t\t\t\t\n                        by Gwen Mason, Regional Director \n                        \n                 \n\t\n\t            \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t  \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tEach of us who lives or works in Virginia treasures some wonderful, edible part of the Commonwealth\u2019s history and culture.\u00a0\u00a0 From Smithfield ham, to Chesapeake Bay oysters, Winchester apples, Rockingham and Augusta Counties\u2019 milk and dairy products, Highland County beef, and red and white wine from vineyards across Virginia, the Commonwealth provides a bounty of nutritious, tasty sustenance.\r\nAgriculture is the dominant industry in the Shenandoah Valley.\u00a0 Representing Senator Kaine as his Regional Director from Roanoke on \u201cdown the Valley\u201d to Shenandoah County, I know that agricultural issues are key to the prosperity and growth of this region.\u00a0\r\n\r\nLast week I attended the Virginia \u201cFarm to Table\u201d 2013 Conference held at Blue Ridge Community College.\u00a0\u00a0 The conference was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech.\u00a0 With support from 30 other organizations, more than 200 attendees from across the state learned about farming techniques that improve social well-being and strengthen the economy.\r\nWe all want to know where our food comes from.\u00a0 Locally grown organic food and sustainable agricultural practices are now important components of the Valley\u2019s economic growth.\u00a0 The U.S. Department of Agriculture is a key partner to communities throughout the Shenandoah Valley, with personnel dedicated to rural development, natural resources conservation, and farm service.\u00a0\u00a0 Knowing how close the partnership is between the USDA and Virginia farms, it is not surprising that the bywords of the Farm to Table conference were \u201ccollaboration, conservation, and community.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\r\nThe most unforgettable aspect of the conference was the delicious, locally grown lunch catered by Harrisonburg\u2019s wonderful organic restaurant, A Bowl of Good.\u00a0 Organically produced pork tacos, creamy and firm cheeses, and tasty baked goods were offered to all the attendees.\u00a0 And of course, we topped it off with Homestead Creamery ice cream.\r\nFarming and agriculture are critically important to Senator Kaine.\u00a0 Stay tuned for his upcoming visits to the Shenandoah Valley, which will include a tasting tour to sample the delicious offerings of our local farmers. In the Shenandoah Valley, it is easy to Buy Fresh, Buy Local, and sample the bounty that is Virginia Grown.\r\n\r\nPhoto credit: Whitney Pipkin", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/commonwealth-connection/virginia-grown"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8196101989597082, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}