Purely Piedmont is a brand and marketing program created by the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission’s Food Policy Council to promote artisans, agritourism sites and activities, and food and beverages produced in Virginia’s Northern Piedmont. The program currently covers Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock Counties. By purchasing products and visiting locations with the Purely Piedmont logo, consumers can be confident they are truly supporting local producers.

The Purely Piedmont program was created to: Promote consumption of the region’s locally produced goods Welcome visitors to experience the region's many agritourism destinations Educate consumers on the advantages of buying and supporting local producers Allow consumers to easily identify locally produced products and have the ability to make more informed choices.

To use the Purely Piedmont logo, locally grown food and beverage producers must meet the following standards: Fruit and vegetable products must be grown within the Region (i.e. Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock Counties in Virginia). For meat products, the animal must have spent 75% of its life after weaning within the Region. For processed (i.e. value-added) products, total product by weight must be 75% ingredients grown within the Region, excluding water, flour, sugar, oil and salt. To use the Purely Piedmont logo, Agri-tourism sites open to the public and complimentary business and activities must meet the following standards: All sites are local Agricultural and Forestry based businesses that use or produce local products in the Rappahannock-Rapidan region. All sites must be visitor friendly, clean, safe, provide adequate restrooms, directional signs and ample off-street parking. Craft shop, gift shops, and galleries must prioritize agri-artisan items made from the Rappahannock-Rapidan region. Shops with a strong product line of imports or crafts made from kits will not qualify. Sites that sell agricultural and food products must prioritize locally grown or produced goods. Restaurants must meet one of the following: Supports local agri-artisans by displaying their products at their place of business (hang artwork, sell honey, etc.) Features locally grown produce/products and identifies source regularly on the menu *Local businesses that would be complementary to Agricultural and/or Forestry based businesses shall be considered on a case by case basis.

No, we do not employ the various inspection staff necessary to enforce such standards and instead have decided to focus our limited resources solely on the standards listed above. However, we encourage consumers to get to know the farmers that grow their food and ask them directly about production and business practices.

Buying locally-grown foods and beverages helps our region’s farmers keep farming, supports the local economy, and maintains the region’s rural character. 70% of the region’s farmers reported a loss during the last agricultural census in 2012. If each resident purchased $5 of food from the region’s farmers each week, it would generate $793 million of new income for our farmers.

The Purely Piedmont brand name and logo are trademarks of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission. Use of the logo is governed by a set of logo-use standards and a binding license agreement. Upon complaint, if a producer cannot prove that they are meeting the program standards, the business will be removed from the program. If you suspect a product does not meet the program standards listed above, please contact Michelle Edwards at (540) 829-7450 or medwards@rrregion.org.