The Central Virginia Poultry Cooperative (CVP) has been formed by a group of former broiler chicken producers to restore and revitalize poultry production in Central Virginia for the benefit of poultry-dependent farms and communities through the production of table eggs.

CVP, a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative (Code of Virginia, § 13.1-312), is for the benefit of its producer members and non-voting shareholders, and the first of its kind in Central Virginia.  CVP formed in response to  Tyson Foods' March 2023 announcement closing its Glen Allen, Virginia, broiler processing facility idling 265 farmer-owned production houses.  Economic impact to our region is estimated as a $358 million dollar loss annually.

A considerable financial investment of some $39 million is necessary to convert 12 farms with 53 houses from broiler production houses to cage-free laying hen houses or to cage-free pullet houses.  Growers are currently conducting their own due diligence and interacting with lending institutions for financing.

CVP has negotiated a 13-year contract to sell wholesale cage-free and other premium table eggs to Dutch Country Organics LLC (DCO), a Middlebury, Indiana, based company.  DCO has contracted with CVP to purchase the eggs and ship them to their facility in Indiana where the eggs will be processed, graded and shipped across the country.

Board of Directors

John Bapties, Chairman and President

Trent Johnson, Vice Chair and Vice President

Roxie Johnson, Secretary and Treasurer

Pete Watson

William (Bill) F. Osl Jr.

Board Advisors

Ken Risser

Tony Banks

Robert Mills

Hawthorne & Hawthorne, P.C.

PB Mares

Learn more about our Governance