Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Reed Graham
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
According to the USDA, fruit and vegetable consumption has fallen from 299 pounds per person in 2003 to 272 pounds per person in 2013. Although community members understand the importance of consuming more fruits and vegetables, access can be difficult. The Breathitt County Farmers Market is an excellent resource for attaining fresh local produce.Breathitt County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, in partnership with county Extension Agents and staff, Robinson Center for Appa
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Cumberland County Farmer’s Market had a wonderful 2018 season. Three vendors now have multiple high tunnels each. This allows them to extend their market season. The market offered four new programs this season, POP Club, Prescription Program, Pantry Program, and Summer Feed. POP, Prescription, and Pantry were all in conjunction with the Cumberland County Health Coalition. POP Club started first at the market in April. This program was designed once a month for kids to attend the marke
Author: Roger Mollette
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Martin County has 12,500 residents while 37% live below poverty level with a median income of only $22,497.00. Residents of the county have a need for fresh fruits and vegetables at an affordable price.The Martin County Extension Service worked cooperatively with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Martin County Health Department and Martin County Senior Citizens Center to distribute WIC vouchers to 150 WIC recipients and Senior vouchers to 80 Senior Citizens. These vouchers could be redeeme
Author: Charles May
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Perry County Farmer’s Market is in its’ twelfth season. 2018 has been a successful market season with gross annual sales exceeding $60,000.00. Sales are up over $10,000 from previous years.The market participates in the Senior Voucher Program and WIC, and through a Community Farm Alliance Grant, participates in the Double Dollars Program. This has returned more than $3,500 to consumers. This market has one of the highest Senior Voucher redemption rates in
Author: Chadwick Conway
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Statistics have shown that local farmer’s markets provide numerous attributes to the community it serves, including wide growth to the local economy. The Knott County Extension Service began supporting a weekly farmer’s market in 2013. In 2018, in its fifth year, the market has seen tremendous growth and gained stability with two markets held weekly, and has enjoyed a steady number of customers throughout the growing season. Through these developing markets and the popularity of loca
Author: Christin Herbst
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
In the last twenty years since the 1998 Tobacco Settlement Agreement, Carroll County farmers have been required to diversify their farming operations into agricultural enterprises that will be successful for them into the future. One route farmers took was focused on growing produce and meat, as well as developing a vegetable, fruit, and meat market for the community. The Riverview Farmer’s Market was established in 2004, and in the 2018 season, there were nine vendors (including one new v
Author: Deborah Stumbo
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Eastern Kentucky has the highest food insecurity in the United States and is considered a food dessert. In Pike County, 11,750 individuals (18.7% of county population) are not sure where their next meal will come from. 71% of the population of Pike County qualify for SNAP, WIC, Free School Meals, CSFP & TEFAP. The Pikeville Farmers Market participates in the WIC, SR Vouchers, Double Dollars programs to help both our local people and the local farmers. These programs have added he
Author: Gary Hamilton
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Farmers' Market provides an economic benefit and healthy nutritional role to the citizens of Mt. Sterling and Montgomery County. To help show it's customers how much they are appreciated, the Farmers Market Executive Board with the help of the Extension Service, organized a very successful Customer Appreciation Event. The event included: Food, Educational Demonstrations, Displays, Health Screenings and Door Prizes. 1000 plus customers attended this weekend event that spotlighted Mont
Author: Bonnie Sigmon
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Art at the MarketIncreasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by Laurel County youth is the main goal of the Art at the Market program. The program had 3 regular monthly sessions from May to July held during the Saturday Farmers Market. The program targeted youth 4-12. The children signed up to participate in a specially taught painting project which they were encouraged to enter into the Laurel County Fair. The children were given a sample of a U.K. SNAP recipe
Author: Kristin Hildabrand
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
In an effort to gain new interests in specialty crop production and to educate consumers on healthy preparation of various specialty crops at home, the Warren County Extension Office kicked off the 3rd season of Kentucky Farms, Kentucky Flavor (KYF2). This program highlights a specialty crop producer through video and gives consumers a behind the scenes look at how the crop is cultivated from seed to harvest. In partnership with the SOKY Marketplace, the USDA Specialty Crop Grant granted the fun
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
For the past two years, the Family and Consumer Sciences Program has aimed to increase the volume and awareness of the Hardin County Farmers' Market. By offering child and adult programs at the market and taking over their social media advertising, the FCS agent and the Farmers' Market board have worked to increase fruit and vegetable intake of Hardin County residents while also promoting the local food system. The market has seen steady and continued growth for the past two summers, wit
Author: Sarah Imbus
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Understanding where your food comes from, the importance of healthy movement and active lifestyle, and following recipes to prepare healthy meals for families can be overwhelming for many. Agents Ronda Rex, Kate Thomason, and Sarah Stolz collaborated with a FREE 6 week series program titled: Couch Potato Challenge Series. This program provided research based information to 21participants and gave them tools and resources on how to increase walking steps while improving their exercise activity, s
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
A new Franklin-Simpson Farmers’ Market Pavilion was completed in downtown Franklin in 2015. The market is aesthetically pleasing in the downtown area featuring expanded selling spaces and an increase in visibility and traffic. There are men’s and women’s restrooms and storage space available for vendors. Since the construction of this facility, vendor numbers and profits have greatly increased.The market requires operating expenses, maintenance costs, and fun
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
In Cumberland County, diabetes affects 16%, hypertension 42%, and heart disease deaths are 313 per year (all of which are above the state average), according to the Kentucky Health Facts. In the county 1140 individuals are food insecure. Only 2.3% consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, according to the CDC. So, in 2018 the Prescription program was created in conjunction with the Cumberland County Farmers’ Market, Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Service, Cumbe
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Kentucky farmers who desire to increase farm profits can produce value-added products such as jams, jellies, baked goods, pickles, salsa and canned vegetables. They must complete a five-hour home-based microprocessing (HBM) training as the first step toward certification required to sell these items as farmer’s markets, roadside stands, or their farms. The Marshall County Family & Consumer Sciences agent facilitated the HBM training for ten area farmers who completed the workshop
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
In July 2016, the Webster County Farmers’ Market was established and opened under the name “Webster County Farmers’ Market #1WC”. Over the past two years, the market has had as many as 11 paid vendors that provided locally grown fruits and vegetables, value added products and beef, pork and poultry cuts of meats to many patrons. According to results of an on-line social media survey and a paper survey given at the market in 2017, customers identified the need
Author: Daniel Carpenter
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Our LaRue County Farmers Market has struggle throughout the years due to the proximity of other strong Farmers Markets. This was our second year to set up in the American Legion parking lot which was closer to town, accessible by sidewalks, and was located in an area within easy walking distance to low income housing. We had 6 vendors throughout the season and sales were great. It was our first season implementing the Senior Farmers Market Voucher Program and it was great success with nearly 90%
Author: Lori Bowling
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Boyd County Farmers Market is in it's 40th year and to date this past season has shown an increase in total market sales of 12.5% and the most annual sales for the market in the past 40 years. With the addition of the location at the local hospital, offering payroll deduction to hospital employees, the market became a viable location for new farmers looking for an outlet for their product. The location that has remained out in the county for years also saw an increase in sale
Author: David Koester
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
We have had the goal of increasing the product mix and lengthening the sales season of our Specialty Crop producers. Many areas of the country with much shorter growing seasons than Northern Kentucky have year round markets and provide customers with a more diverse product mix.To address this issue and make growers and potential growers aware of the many possibilities a Specialty Crop Conference was planned with Northern Kentucky Agriculture and Horticulture agents as well as University of
Author: Jessica Bessin
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Mercer County Horticulture program has offered a new exciting program aimed at the back yard gardener who may have grown a little too much produce. “So you want to join the farmers market” was a series of classes for those who are on the fence about selling their extra produce at the local farmers market. The idea for this series of classes was thought up by an engaged community member who also happens to be a Master Gardener that partnered with the Mercer County Horticultu
Author: Cecelia Hostilo
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Cadiz/Trigg County Farmers Market is a great source of fresh vegetables and fruits for our local community. 2018-19 continued with market locations downtown on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and in the parking lot of the Trigg County Health Department on Wednesday afternoons. The Health Department location has helped to increase the number of WIC vouchers being redeemed from 67% to 94%.The Extension FCS agent set up informational booths at the Farmers Market once in July and onc
Author: Paul Sizemore
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Tobacco was the primary income for farmers in this area for many years and since the buyout from the Tobacco Companies in 2001 it has been a struggle for farmers to replace it. Farmers quickly realized that they had to start producing something else to sustain their operations and for many the answer was Vegetable Production. It was obvious that the farmers had a good grasp on production but the problem seem to be in Marketing because that was something they had not had to do in Tobacco Producti
Author: Mattea Mitchell
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
This is the second full year for the Hickman County Farmers Market to be open to the public. To celebrate such an asset to our community, Extension teamed up with Fiscal Court and the Rotary Park committee to host a celebration event.Local vendors were invited to set up at regular opening time for the market. For the actual celebration event, kid’s activities, local talent, free food, recipe samples and other local vendors (Women’s Club, Chamber, Extension, SNAP, etc.) set up and dre
Author: Kayla Walton
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Menifee County, as well as many other Eastern Kentucky counties has a high obesity and chronic disease risk rate, especially in low-income audiencces. Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables has been shown to decrease risk of some chronic diseases and improve health outcomes. The Farmer's Market provides an opportunity for the community to purchase local produce and is in a desirable location for shoppers. This also helps financially support the local economy and farming community.&n
Author: Gregory Comer
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Farmer’s Markets play an critical role for both farmers and consumers in communities. They bring urban and rural communities together, while creating economic growth and increasing access to fresh, healthy foods. USDA data show there are over 8200 Farmer’s Market listed in the National Farmer’s Market Directory nationwide, a 76% increase since 2008. The Beaver Dam Farmer’s Market flourished in 2018. The City of Beaver Dam invested more resou
Author: Linda Hieneman
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
In 2004 the Master Gardener organization created the first Farmers Market in Greenup County. This allows farmers to direct market their farm products to a local customer base. Consumers today want to purchase locally produced farm fresh products straight from the hands that grew it. Senior Citizens in Greenup County do not receive the Senior Citizens Farmers Market vouchers. Many of the surrounding counties receive these vouchers and are able to purchase produce and items f
Author: Amy Aldenderfer
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The seven-year collaboration continues between the Hardin County Farmers’ Market, the Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service and the Lincoln Trail Area Master Gardeners.The Master Gardeners provide samples, recipes and information to the shoppers at the Hardin County Farmer’s Market once a month through the growing/selling season. The Master Gardeners prepare two recipes from the Kentucky Proud Plate It Up! Series. Then, pass out samples to the patrons of the Market, encouraging
Author: Deborah Stumbo
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The disappearance of many of the heirloom varieties of seeds, is a concern for many. Anyone from professional plant breeders to the local enthusiast's find heirlooms fascinating. Because of the isolating mountains of eastern Kentucky, many of the heirlooms varieties have been preserved. The heirlooms are bred for taste and specific topography/weather, while most of the more recent varieties are bred for storage, long life, or even mechanical picking not taste. For mul
Author: Jeffrey Casada
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Clay County Community Farmer’s Market is in its’ fifth season. 2018 has been a successful market season with gross annual sales exceeding $40,000.00. Sales are up over $10,000 from 2017.The market participates in the Senior Voucher Program and Women Infant and Children (WIC), and through a Community Farm Alliance Grant, participates in the Double Dollars Program. This has returned more than $2400 to consumers. The market has also received $971.50 from The Foundation for App
Author: Kristin Hildabrand
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The SOKY Marketplace is a unique venue that has added value to the Downtown Bowling Green, KY scene. First established in 2014, this historic location has continued to grow and now offers many things including the upstairs commercial kitchen, outdoor farmers’ market pavilion for local food producers to offer fresh seasonal produce on a weekly basis, as well as the Crop Shop that extends the farmers market during the weekdays on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 3:00pm until
Author: Kathryn Wimberley
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
On 28 June, 2019, the Horticulture Agent for McCracken County offered Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT) to the Master Food and Master Gardener Extension Service volunteers. This agent was qualified as a trainer. (Previously the Hort Agent was trained by UK and KDA to offer training in her county to venders and educators at area farmers markets and roadside stands.)The Agent was given the proper documentation to train those groups which offer samples of raw produce at roadside or farmers mar
Author: Courtney Jenkins
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The increase in grocery store food prices, coupled with the recent local food movement, has driven consumers to seek out fresh, local food options. These factors, among others, have certainly contributed to the success of the Magoffin County Farmers’ Market.After working with community leaders and potential vendors to facilitate the establishment of the county’s first farmers’ market in 2015, the CEA for ANR has focused on educational trainings to improve marketing and increase
