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GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH VASFA

Virginia Specialty Food Association mission is to provide its membership with growth, educational, marketing and collaborative opportunities that promote their passion for creating the finest and diverse specialty food products throughout the Commonwealth.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Benefits

COMMUNICATION

Regular communications will help keep you informed and stay in the know.

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EDUCATION

Business education and information to help sustain, mange, and/or grow your business. We regularly hold Coffee Chats. These are typically 1.5 hours where experts, vendors and your peers are brought together to share, collaborate and grow together.

 

SAVINGS

Discounts available with Preferred Providers including a social media accountability program ($150 savings); waived application fee to join the national Specialty Food Association ($100 savings); free access to live & recorded Coffee Chats ($25 savings each event).

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RESOURCES

Finding information for your Virginia business is made easier for our members with resources including a DISTRIBUTOR LIST made available to members.

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NETWORKING & GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES 

We provide opportunities for networking with fellow producers and business service providers. We provide a continuous pipeline of communication.

 

MENTORING/PEER SUPPORT

Our members, professional advisors and resource people are always available to assist and answer your questions. We've "been there and done that" and are happy to help where we can.

 

PROMOTIONS

Opportunities to connect with retailers, grocers, distributors, brokers, and buyers.

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SALES & MARKETING ASSISTANCE

Join an organization committed to helping you grow your business. Our board is made up of seasoned specialty food manufacturers with hundreds of combined years in the industry and is also here to help with connections.

 

EXPANDING INDUSTRY

Our strength in numbers helps grow our association as well as the Virginia's Finest program. Your participation makes sales grow. When our members are strong the association is stronger, and we can do more to support our specialty craft producers and entrepreneurs.

 

​CONTINUING GROWTH

More benefits continue to become available as the VASFA grows.

Having been in the Virginia Specialty Food Industry since 1987 I wish resources like those offered through this association were available back then. So many lessons would not have been learned the hard way. The coffee chats and all the past recordings is just top notch info no matter what stage of business you are at.  Not to mention having access to so many of your peers in this industry when you have a question to ask. Truly invaluable!

Jeff Bateman,
President/Owner of Integrity Food Group, LLC

Tiers
PRODUCER MEMBER

$189

  • VA Specialty Food & Beverage companies that manufacture specialty food items

  • VA Specialty Food & Beverage companies that contract for the manufacture of item

  • Corporate offices are located within the State of Virginia

  • Benefits include:

    • General Business Education​, Compliance Education, & Support

    • 1 on 1 Mentorship Program

    • Guidance to Grow your Business

    • State & National Organization Partnerships

    • Provider Discounts

    • Low-cost Dues

    • Open Forum Discussions and In-Person Networking Events

    • Virginia Tech Food & Science Food Innovations Team Programs

Tiers
PROVIDER MEMBER

$189

  • Open to all companies providing supplies or services to the food industry

  • Listing on VASFA website linking to Provider’s page

  • Option to sponsor a Coffee Chat at a reduced rate 

  • Eligible to apply to become a Preferred Provider after joining as a Provider member

PREFERRED PROVIDER MEMBER

$339

  • Vetted through Membership Committee; $150 annual premium once accepted 

  • Provides a discount or offering on goods/services exclusive to our membership

  • Highlighted on webpage dedicated to Preferred Providers, in ads in member alerts, co-branded marketing; and networking opportunities

  • ​Complimentary Coffee Chat sponsorship (1 per year); company name and information will be included in Coffee Chat promotional emails, mentioned during the Coffee Chat, information or ad included in slide deck, have time to speak to attendees.  

RETAILER MEMBER

$0

  • Individual/company with interest related to the VA Specialty Food & Beverage industry

  • Includes stores, restaurants, boutiques, and shops across Virginia

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