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K1LHM0ND — Virginia House Republican Leader Raymond R. “Andy" Guest Jr. is sponsoring a multipoint plan designed to help the state’s financially-ailing farmers and
I agricultural producers.
Del. Guest, the ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, is a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor in the June 13 primary.
The 49-year-old Warren County farmer and banker is calling for the creation of a Virginia-wide network of Farmer’s Markets. “With these markets, producers would be able to work directly with wholesalers and retail customers. It would provide a greater opportunity for our farmers to have what they need — a profit,” Guest said.
“Yes, we need to continue to seek more efficient w'ays to raise crops across Virginia. But we have to be able to sell them.” And, according to Del. Guest, “I have the utmost confidence that our farmers and agriculture producers can grow and market their goods . . . and do it efficiently. What we need to do is to help them sell their products at a larger profit. There is, unfortunately, a large difference between the two.”
Del. Guest called for a statewide market survey to determine consumer need and desire for so-called specialty crops. “Virginia farmers need to look at ways at which new or specialty crops can be used to find a niche in the marketplace. As with manufacturers and those in hightech industry, farmers will have to do the same to comer a market,” he said.
According to Del. Guest, an 18year veteran of the Virginia General
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