Photo by Bridget Bryant

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1 To keep farmers on the farm we must maintain a strong farm safety net, but we will also have to build a thriving companion economy to compliment production agriculture in rural America. Tom Vilsack Photo by Bridget Bryant SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE

2 Consumers increasingly recognize the role that local farms play in ensuring the vitality and sustainability of our food system and local economies. As a key part of our region s food system, the Virginia Piedmont is no exception. Join Us with Your Sponsorship Together We are Making a Difference! The Piedmont Environmental Council is proud to support the region s local agricultural community, and we invite you to join us. Our programs strengthen local family-owned farms to benefit our community, economy and the environment. Over 90% of participating farms have said their customers have mentioned the BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL guide. Over 75% of farms and restaurants have said the guides have had a positive effect on their business. PEC coordinates three BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL chapters that cover 12 counties in the Piedmont, and mails the guides directly to 259,000 area residents. The annual guides are an important tool to connect northern and central Virginia consumers with local farms and food--fostering healthy communities! If you have any questions please call Oya Simpson at or Trish Carter at Direct Mail Distribution Loudoun County 117,000+ Northern Piedmont 73,000+ Charlottesville 69,000+ Sponsoring the BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL guide(s) will show your support for working family farms, our local economy and healthy communities. This also provides a strong base for our other agricultural programs. Through direct mail, special events, and copies provided to participating restaurants, businesses and other locations, we distribute over 275,000 guides throughout the Piedmont region! Sponsors may choose one or more markets.

3 Agricultural Programs Working with farmers and conserving farmland to strengthen and sustain our local food system and economy for building sustainable communities. Buy Fresh Buy Local Working Groups PEC hosts several BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL Partner Working groups. Partners work together to improve some aspect of the food system and supply chain. In 2012, working groups developed an educational seminar series for consumers and began tackling the issue of growing and sourcing local organic grain. Loudoun Farm Incubator Initiative Established Loudoun County farmers and PEC have collaborated to design a sustainable model and business plan for a Loudoun Farm Incubator. The incubator farm will provide next-generation farmers with access to good land, as well as tools and equipment, giving them an opportunity to develop their own business, markets and credit history before they move to their own farms. Farmer Chef Express This new feature of the revamped Virginia BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL website ( is an innovative, interactive tool where real-time information on available fresh food products and local food needs can be posted so that buyers and sellers can connect easily and directly, in turn strengthening the local food economy and minimizing waste.

4 Agricultural Programs, continued Pasture Enterprise Network PEC has created and supports a network of regional livestock producers who visit a different farm operation each month. The group discusses pasture and livestock management, as well as business practices and marketing. A demonstration project has been established at a member s farm. By nurturing this network, and contributing our expertise, PEC is institutionalizing better grazing practices and more successful, sustainable pasture based businesses. Farmland Conservation Since 1972, PEC has partnered with farmers to make sure that the most vital input for farming - an adequate supply of quality land and water - will always be available in Virginia s Piedmont. Today, conservation easements protect over 357,000 acres of land in the Piedmont, helping to ensure that undeveloped land is available for generations of farmers to come. PEC staff have the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience needed to help the local food system become a reliable and sustainable sector of the region s local economies. PEC is a non-profit, tax-exempt, organization under IRS code 501 (c)(3) Federal Tax Identification Number

5 Marketing and Educational Outreach PEC s Agriculture Team participates in many festivals and conferences State Fair of Virginia Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello Edible Fest Orange EarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival Farm Bureau s Local Food Networks Conference Albemarle County Agri-Business Marketing Conference Culpeper Harvest Days Farm Tour Fauquier County Farm Tour Madison County Taste of the Mountains Festival Taste of Culpeper County Fairs (in 2014) In the Media Discovering Local Food Written for the Piedmont Family Magazine, April 2013 Buy Fresh, Buy Local program having an impact in Fauquier Article in the Fauquier Times, May 2013 The pasture-powered network Article in the Rappahannock News, June 2013 Defining Food Labels Written for the Piedmont Family Magazine, June Press Releases PEC s 2013 Buy Fresh Buy Local Guides Sent to Over 117,000 Loudoun Homes 4/17/ Cville Area 'Buy Fresh Buy Local' Guides Hit Mailboxes - 4/25/2013 PEC s 2013 Buy Fresh Buy Local Guides Sent to Northern Piedmont Homes 5/6/2013

6 Thank You 2013 Sponsors Community Business Sponsors Conservation General Motors Foundation* Loudoun County Department of Economic Development Sustainability TriCounty Feeds, Etc. Wellness Washington Fine Properties Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative Harvest NOVA Medical Group Photo by Molly Peterson The BFBL guide is a wonderful resource for residents of Loudoun County to connect with our farms and wineries. The guide also reaches consumers beyond Loudoun. Our office has a mailing list of over 3,000 local food eaters that receive the guide on an annual basis. The most common remark we hear is that recipients look forward to receiving the guide and save a spot on the refrigerator for it every year. Kellie Boles Agricultural Development Officer Loudoun County Department of Economic Development

7 Thank You 2013 Sponsors Local Food Industry Sponsors Community Partners Tuskies Restaurant Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Top of the Crop Albemarle County Economic Development Catoctin Creek Distilling Countryside Organics* Culpeper Harvest Days Farm Tour Fauquier County Agricultural Development Department East Lynn Farm Fair Oaks Farm Farm Credit of the Virginias* Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum Fauquier Farm Bureau Fauquier Health Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Cooperative, Inc. The Market at Grelen* 24-Carrot Sponsors Over the Grass Farm Potomac Vegetable Farm Rebecca s Natural Food The Wine Kitchen Wolf Creek Farm Woodson s Mill Woodtrail Graziers Good Egg Animal Connection Healthy by Nature Natural Foods Healthy Harvest Cooper Vineyards Rider s Backfield Farm Beef Wellspring Farm * Sponsor of 3 chapter guides Sponsor of 2 chapter guides We are very grateful for the site and the publication! Singing Frog Farm PEC Address: 45 Horner Street, Warrenton, Virginia Main Office Phone:

8 View or Download 2013 Guides Online Connecting with Social Media

9 Local Food Industry Sponsorship Opportunities Community Partner $2,500 Large advertisement on the front page of the BFBL guide (4 x3.5 ) Sponsor logo in the sponsor section of BFBL guide Highlighted/expanded listing in BFBL guide Highlighted listing on the BFBL website Top of the Crop $1,000 Small advertisement in inner pages of BFBL guide (3.125 x2.5 ) Sponsor logo in sponsor section of BFBL guide Highlighted/expanded listing in the BFBL guide Highlighted listing on the BFBL website 24-Carrot $500 Sponsor logo in sponsor section of BFBL guide Highlighted/expanded listing in the BFBL guide Highlighted listing on the BFBL website Good Egg $250 Sponsor logo in sponsor section of BFBL guide Highlighted listing on BFBL website Healthy Harvest $100 Sponsor name listed in sponsor section of BFBL guide Highlighted listing on website

10 Piedmont Environmental Council Agricultural Programs / Buy Fresh Buy Local Sponsorship Application Form Must be submitted by March 3, 2014 Company Name Company Industry Company Address Street City State Zip Company Phone Contact Information First Name Last Name Title Signature Address Direct Phone Number Sponsorship Levels Community Partner $2,500 Top of the Crop $1, Carrot $500 Good Egg $250 Healthy Harvest $100 Donation Method - Check One Credit Card Select Your Sponsorship Level Chapter Areas Circle One Loudoun County Northern Piedmont Charlottesville Check Please the signed form saved in PDF format to Karen Hunsberger at khunsberger@pecva.org for processing your sponsorship. For questions, call Karen at Please send a letter of confirmation for my donation. Yes No If you wish to sponsor more than one chapter area, please contact Jessica (434) x24 The Piedmont Environmental Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.