As traditional methods of harvesting oysters started flailing, a family business turned toward innovative aquaculture to rebound oyster populations. 

Virginia universities and research institutions are leading the way to improve controlled environment agriculture in the Commonwealth and spur nationwide agricultural development.

Labor shortages have long been a challenge in agricultural operations, spurring innovative new ways of operating. Today’s farms rely as much on GPS-guided technology and artificial intelligence-driven automation as they do on manual labor. However, these changes have created their own hurdles by demanding new skills of today’s agricultural workforce. 

Any discussion about Virginia peanuts needs to start with a clarification between Virginia peanuts and Virginia Peanuts. The lowercase former refers to peanuts grown in the Commonwealth; the capitalized latter is one of four peanut cultivars grown in the United States. If you’ve ever cracked a peanut out of a shell at a baseball game, that was a Virginia Peanut.

Four centuries after the advent of the agriculture industry in Virginia, the Commonwealth is again at the forefront of agricultural innovation.

CEA companies bring food production to the people

Virginia has made an impact on American history and culture in countless ways — some expected, some not. We’ve put together an alphabetical compendium of the various industries, products, and even concepts that wouldn’t be the same without the Commonwealth’s contributions. Read on to
learn more about the sometimes-surprising ways Virginia has helped make America’s economy and culture what they are today.

Jonathan Zur is president and CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), a nonprofit organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to promote inclusion. VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi spoke with Zur about VCIC’s mission, its activities, and the importance of pairing diversity with inclusion.

Virginia has been indispensable since the beginning of its existence. In addition to eight U.S. presidents, the Commonwealth was home to numerous Founding Fathers, civil rights leaders, and barrier-breaking athletes, actors, musicians and more. Read on to learn about Virginia’s contributions to history, music, sports, and the arts.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has existed as a business venture since its inception in 1607. More than 400 years on, Virginia is still known as one of the best states in the country for business and is top-ranking for business climate, business friendliness, or their overall state rankings. Today, companies across industries call Virginia home.