RICHMOND—The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is offering a free Virginia Grown app for Windows Phone 7.

Virginia Grown Mobile allows consumers to search for a variety of fresh-from-the-farm products on their Windows 7 smart phones and get directions to the nearest farmers’ market, pick-your-own farm or other venue.

“The Virginia Grown mobile application is a first-of-its-kind,” said Matthew J. Lohr, VDACS commissioner. “We are not aware of any other state that offers a similar application to locate farm-fresh products on a consumer’s telephone.”

The Virginia Grown app allows Virginia agricultural producers to communicate directly with end-users, allowing them to share their specific messages, product profiles and services with the public.

App users will be able to locate fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, eggs, nursery items, Christmas trees and specialty foods and beverages within seconds with just a few touches of the screen. The app will also include a mapping and direction function to help consumers get to a farm, roadside stand or farmers’ market.

More information and screen shots of the new application are available at this website.