The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative is pleased to provide this letter of support for IronRoost Farms, Inc.’s application to the USDA Local Food Promotion Program Planning Grant.

VPGC is Virginia’s largest poultry cooperative, representing 165 member-growers and processing over 7 million turkeys annually across USDA-certified facilities. The cooperative’s custom and toll processing capabilities—serving over 400 customers—position it as a critical infrastructure partner for any new poultry venture in the Commonwealth. IronRoost Farms’ model of independent, fair-contract production aligns with VPGC’s cooperative values and its long-standing commitment to family farm viability.

As Virginia recovers from the displacement of farmers caused by the Tyson Foods Glen Allen closure, the regional poultry sector has an opportunity to rebuild with stronger structures and more equitable partnerships. VPGC has demonstrated this resilience before, and we see IronRoost as a constructive part of the next chapter.

VPGC will participate in site evaluation activities and explore co-pack processing feasibility as part of the 24-month planning process. We will provide technical advisory services and staff consultation, valued at approximately $3,000–$5,000 in in-kind support, to assist IronRoost in assessing processing arrangements that serve their farmer network.

We recommend IronRoost Farms, Inc. to USDA as a project that complements existing regional processing infrastructure and builds on Virginia’s agricultural strengths.