Last Wednesday, Garner’s Produce hosted an event to celebrate the construction of a commercial kitchen next to its farm stand on Kings Highway. The new facility will provide local agricultural processing capacity and strengthen opportunities for value‑added farm production in Westmoreland, a move expected to support local producers and bolster the County’s agricultural commerce.

“This kitchen opens the door for us to do more with what we grow and source locally, and to serve customers in new ways while staying rooted right here in Westmoreland County,” said Dana Boyle of Garner’s Produce. “It creates room for the next step in how we operate while keeping the same local focus that has always defined Garner’s Produce.”

In January, then‑Governor Glenn Youngkin announced a $390,000 investment in rural communities to establish and expand opportu‑nities for small and mid‑size producers while also strengthening local food systems.

Eleven projects were awarded fund‑ing from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Infrastructure Grant Program, includ‑ing one in the Northern Neck for Garner’s Produce. The $50,000 matching grant—the maximum amount available—was intended to help the Industrial Development Authority of Westmoreland County construct and outfit a commercial kitchen adjacent to Garner’s Produce Food Stand, a project that’s well on the way to completion.

The new facility will enable Garner’s Produce to handle preparation, process‑ing, and packaging of locally grown crops converting that locally-grown produce into shelf‑stable or ready‑to‑eat products. That local pipeline is expected to reduce food waste, increase access to local food in the six markets Garner’s Produce serves, and support local farm revenue.

“This project represents exactly the kind of practical investment that helps a local family business grow while strengthening agriculture in Westmoreland County,” said Supervisor Darryl E. Fisher. “Garner’s Produce has become part of the fabric of this community, and it is exciting to celebrate a project that helps secure its future while creating new opportunity for local producers.”

Board Chairman Timothy Trivett said, “It is a pleasure to see this family’s long‑held vision come to fruition. This expansion reflects care‑ful planning and a real commitment to growth. Garner’s Produce is already an important asset to Westmoreland County and the Northern Neck, and we wish them continued success in this next chapter.”

In addition to Westmoreland County dig‑nitaries, a representative from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and members of the community gathered at Garner’s Produce for the event.