“Northern Virginia natives are important for beneficial insects and pollinators that are in decline,” says Virginia Cooperative Extension instructor Nancy Berlin. “Native plants are beautiful in all seasons. There is a native plant for every condition. They can be managed to look formal or less formal. They’re adapted to our soils and our climate. When selected carefully, they’re easy to grow." Get details and tips at Feb. 11 all-day symposium.

Armored Fresh, the U.S. subsidiary of Armored Fresh Inc., a South Korean leading food tech company, will invest $125,000 to expand its headquarters and add 25 new jobs in Fairfax County.

Dr. Charlie Broaddus, State Veterinarian with Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), has issued a permit to Nicolas “Santa” Claus, of the North Pole, to bring his herd of “eight tiny reindeer” and one additional rare, red-nosed reindeer into Virginia on the evening of Dec. 24.

Average price for a 2022 Thanksgiving meal for ten people in Virginia is $73.91.

If you’ve ever sat down to a Thanksgiving meal and wondered where all that deliciousness came from, now you can find out.

Beginning farmers are invited to free seminars on Farm Finance and Conservation Planning.

The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has interpretation services for 160 languages. Farmers can call or text 833-897-2474 to speak directly with a healthcare professional. Crisis specialists have access to a Virginia-specific database of agricultural and health resources. “Stress on a farm never ends,” said Dana Fisher, chair of the VFBF Safety Advisory Committee, which is spearheading the organization’s mental health support efforts. “Stress and mental health issues are always a problem in the agriculture community, and stress can lead to costly mistakes on the job.