Firm to Develop First Hemp Processing Plant in Virginia

A hemp fiber company is investing $894,000 to open the first hemp processing facility in Virginia following the passage of legislation in the commonwealth last March that permitted cultivation and processing of industrial hemp under the 2018 Federal Farm Bill.

Vitality Farms LLC, operating as Appalachian Biomass Processing, will open the site in Whyte County and hire 13 workers to staff the facility, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced in an Oct. 31 release. 

“I am committed to pursuing every path that will attract economic prosperity to our rural communities, and hemp production opens up a wealth of opportunity to bring new jobs and new business to Virginia,” Gov. Northam said in a statement. “We are focused on developing a thriving and sustainable hemp industry in our commonwealth and by establishing Virginia’s first modern commercial hemp processor, Appalachian Biomass Processing will play a key role in helping to create a highly-anticipated market for our farmers and industrial hemp growers.”

Once operational, the facility will source 6000 tn of hemp produced in Virginia over a three-year period. The value of the hemp will total over $1 million, according to the company. 

“Our production model is an internally reproducible model and can expand to meet the demands of the region’s hemp supply chain,” Susan Moore, the owner of Appalachian Biomass Processing, said in the release. “Our team brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and motivation to see this plan to fruition. By working with state and local economic development allies, we hope to create an entirely new industry for the region.”

Appalachian Biomass Processing will utilize decortication equipment at the site to process bales of hemp into two raw agricultural products, bast fiber and hurd. A Virginia firm will buy hurd produced at the site for use in animal bedding. Bast fiber will be sold to a North Carolina company, which will further process the material for textile industry applications. 

For more news headlines, articles, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones

More Hemp Industry articles:

USDA Launches Program to Support U.S. Hemp Production

Purdue Secures USDA Grant to Research Hemp Production

Z-Belt Conveyor for Hemp Production