Across the farming and food production landscape, urban farming is often excluded from the agriculture conversation. Urban growers are frequently ineligible for many federal programs that are designed for more rural or larger farming operations. Until recently, efforts to address this issue were localized. In 2023, Virginia State University (VSU) secured $4 million in grant funding, primarily from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 's Farm Service Agency (FSA) to make a consolidated effort to connect farmers to nationwide services and programs offered through FSA, and understand the needs of, and suggest policies and programs that could benefit, small and innovative producers. Called the National Urban Ag Initiative , or NUag for short, this effort intends to help more urban producers use finance, education, research and outreach resources that would benefit their operations. NUag is now in full swing with 27 pilot cities and Native tribes, under the leadership of Virginia State's Small Farm Outreach Program and partnering institutions, Virginia Tech's Center for Food Systemns and Community Transformation, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the Jackson, Mississippi-based organization To Improve Mississippi Economics (T.I.M.E.).

Sweet potatoes are a popular food across the United States and the world. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that American consumption of sweet potatoes has almost doubled since the late 1990s, and the U.S.' annual value of sweet potato exports grew from $14 million to $187 million between 2001 and 2021. Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients and fiber and have an established place in cultural and traditional dishes, healthy lifestyles and a variety of diets. This flexible, resilient crop has low input requirements and can grow in sandy soils and small spaces, as long as it receives plenty of sunlight. While neighboring state North Carolina is the leading producer for the United States' massive sweet potato market, Virginia producers have an opportunity to meet growing local demand. As the sweet potato industry in Virginia evolves, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia State University (VSU) works to put knowledge into action to help commercial, small-scale and backyard growers learn to produce, manage and market sweet potatoes.