Purely Piedmont is a brand and marketing program created by the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission’s Food Policy Council to promote artisans, agritourism sites, 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 site locations must be easily accessible by 2-wheel drive vehicles and have appropriate signage for tourists to locate them.

• All sites must specify and maintain regular business hours. Seasonal hours are acceptable, but must be set (no “call ahead” or “check for availability”)

• All sites must be visitor friendly, clean, safe, provide adequate restrooms, directional signs and ample off-street parking.

• All site owners will carry adequate liability insurance and are responsible for taking steps to reduce or eliminate possible risk due to negligence.

• Home-based businesses should comply with all local zoning regulations, ordinances and licensing requirements.

• 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.

There is currently no cost to participate in the program.

The Purely Piedmont logo is available for use as a roll of 1.25” labels to affix to products and packaging, and as digital files for producers to incorporate into their own labels, website and other marketing materials. Please note the labels are not food-safe and should be attached to the packaging, not directly on food. Other Purely Piedmont promotional materials may be available in the future at cost, if producers express sufficient interest, so be sure to indicate your interest in the registration form.

To receive the Purely Piedmont labels and digital logo files, producers must complete the online license agreement form, which gives program members the right to use the logo in accordance with the program’s terms of use. Paper copies of the form are also available to be mailed in by contacting Michelle Edwards at medwards@rrregion.org, or by calling (540) 829-7450. After the completed form is received, program staff will email the digital logo files and mail the number of labels requested.

No, for ease of use and administration, memberships do not need to be renewed.

The Purely Piedmont brand name and logo are trademarks of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission. Use of the logo is governed by a binding license agreement that includes terms of usage. If a complaint is received or the Regional Commission otherwise suspects a program member is not meeting the program standards, the Commission will notify the member and offer the producer an opportunity to prove otherwise. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the Purely Piedmont farmer or farm-based business Certification and License Agreement will result in termination from the program and of the right to use the Purely Piedmont logo and related promotional materials.