Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom wants children to discover how farmers provide healthy meals for them.That’s why the nonprofit organization selected Right This Very Minute by Lisl H. Detlefsen as its 2019 Book of the Year. The book will be read by volunteers across the state during AITC’s annual Agriculture Literacy Week, March 18-22.

A devasting blow happened to the weekend food program for kids in September when the transfer of funds from one sponsoring church to a new sponsoring church was planned. The transfer of $25,000 was taken by unknown hackers during the course of the transfer. The FBI, Loudoun and Prince William County police departments are all investigating the fraud.

September is Food Safety Education Month and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages everyone to follow four safety guidelines to prevent food borne illnesses. Those guideline are 1. cleanliness, 2. thorough cooking, 3. proper temperature control and 4. separating raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) wants everyone to know that September is Honey Month across the Commonwealth. Governor Ralph Northam declared September Virginia Honey Month for many reasons. Here are VDACS’ top three:

U.S. meat may be moving to other countries, but trade has slowed. That’s the assessment of Margaret Ann Smith, a Virginia cattle farmer and chairman of the livestock marketing council for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, regarding tariffs recently imposed by China.

Woodbridge Potomac Communities Civic Association and Prince William County Supervisor Frank J. Principi announced June 14 that the 3rd Annual International Cultural Festival will be held at 7 p.m., on Thursday, June 21, at the Dr. AJ Ferlazzo Government Center Atrium in Woodbridge. The event is free and open to the public.

The Featherstone Elementary School staff, along with the members of the Xi Alpha Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., provided close to 1,000 lunches for members of the school community who lost power due to last week’s wind storm.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced Feb. 8 the detection of a new invasive insect pest in Virginia, the Spotted Lantern Fly, It causes damage to plants because of its method of feeding, a news release stated.