Food Businesses (food entrepreneurs, farmers, restaurants) may use the cannery to create food products to sell directly to a consumer, online, wholesale, or to a retail establishment. Examples:

• Shelf stable products must be acidified and high acid foods in a glass container with a metal lid.  Common products include fruits preserves and syrups, salsas, sauces, condiments, pickles, and vinaigrettes.  Clients may provide their own recipe or take advantage of VFW’s available in-house recipes. 

• Refrigerated products may include dips and spreads (i.e. Pesto or Pimento Cheese).  

• Dry products include tea or spice blends.

• Frozen products include vegetable soups or spreads frozen in individual plastic containers.

• Note that Flash Freezing and Meat Processing services are not available.

Virginia Food Works (VFW) is a non-profit that works with Prince Edward County to encourage the development of new food businesses. VFW’s Processing Specialists work with Food Business Clients, providing assistance as they develop a recipe and begin processing larger batches. A more detailed description of how VFW can assist can be found on their website.   

Interested in seeing the facility? Check out this video!

Fees

In an effort to promote local agribusiness, all Food Business assistance services provided by Virginia Food Works are free of charge.  For production of the product, Virginia Food Works offers a “Co-packing” service.  Take your recipe to them and the finished product will leave the Cannery labeled and ready to go to market.

Note that Food Business Clients may work alongside VFW employees to make their food product. To make it extra affordable, many Clients bring multiple people to help with a production batch.  It’s a fascinating process to be a part of and everyone loves the experience! VFW charges an hourly rate for processing and the rate includes:

• Experienced Manager planning and overseeing production

• Rental of the Cannery

• VFW’s staff’s assurance of regulatory compliance with FDA and VDACS

• Bulk food processing equipment

• Product liability insurance

• Sanitation supplies

• pH testing

• Better Process Control School certified staff

• Batch coding of products

Additional charges apply for hiring additional VFW staff members, receiving deliveries, sourcing ingredients, etc. Contact VFW for a full schedule of rates.

Available Equipment

Please see this webpage for a detailed list of available processing equipment.