Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Kara Back
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Taylor County Farmers' Market reached out to the horticulture agent when she first arrived at Taylor County last October. They requested that she help them increase the number of people who purchased from the market as well as the number of vendors. She had been told that several years ago the market had a health fair and many people took part in it. Promoting healthy eating habits and lifestyles is very important to individuals and a community as a whole, so the hort
Author: Leann Martin
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Allen, Logan, and Simpson Community Early Childhood Council seeks to improve school readiness in our area by engaging families, offering professional development opportunities to providers and mini grant opportunities to STAR rated centers. To qualify as being kindergarten ready, a child needs to be ready to enter into school able to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences that best promote the child’s future success. Readiness is measured in five important domains; acade
Author: Deborah Stumbo
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Pikeville Farmers Market played host to a major part of the Hatfield/McCoy Days celebration. It was a community involvement / tourism activity as well as a Farmers Market "Sell Day". The market had a record 1,653 people in attendance. As you walked through the parking lot there were cars from 11 different states and had one guest all the way from London, England, that was amazed at the depth of talented farmers, crafters, singers, and actors. Market had live
Author: Susan Fox
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Lyon County Farmers’ Market offers local fruits, vegetables and honey. The market was open for 15 weekends this year. Extension maintains the market Facebook page has been liked by 400 people and is one avenue of communication with customers. In addition, each year Extension coordinates a popular market celebration event with samples and nutrition education information offered by the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent. Master Gardeners provide a display and activities. Vendors contribu
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. 2017-18 saw a new location for the twice-weekly market and the addition of a new market location one time per week in the parking lot of the Trigg County Health Department. This location was added to make it easier for WIC participants to redeem WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers. This move was successful shown by the increase in the redemption rates from 4
Author: Laura Maggard
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Lawrence County Farmer's Market has been around for many years. It has provided the residents of Lawrence County and area counties fresh local produce and helped support local farmers and vegetable growers. On average, food travels 1200 miles before it make it to a families kitchen table. Produce that travels that far loses nutritional value and quality. According to the Farmer's Market Coalition, more than 85% of farmer's market vendors traveled fewer than 50 miles to sell at th
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
After being without a consistent farmers market for several years, 2017 brought about a new venue for Harlan Countians to sell and purchase fresh produce, crafts, and prepared foods. With the recent economic situation, as well as an increase in health awareness, a local famer suggested the creation of the market. The farmer contacted the Extension Office, Pine Mountain Settlement School and Harlan Tourism and asked them to play a role in creating a farmers market. These groups
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 and Senior vouchers . These vouchers could be redeemed for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetabl
Author: Jeffrey Casada
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
~~The Clay County Community Farmer’s Market is truly an example of partnerships. The Clay County Extension Council and the Clay County Agricultural Advisory Council partnered with the City of Manchester to start a farmer’s market at the current site. This past season the market outgrew its location and is now looking to partner with another community organization for a site to sell on and build a pavilion. Partnerships with those that administer WIC has helped the m
Author: Paul Dengel
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
In 2016, Horticulture Agent, Paul Dengel successfully raised the redemption rates of the WIC FMNP vouchers that are given to select health departments around the state by 9%. In hopes to build on this success, this 2017 farmer's market season Mr. Dengel coordinated the efforts of the farmers and Whitley County Health Department once again. In 2016 the month of August was very slow with hardly any sales or voucher redemptions so this year he only focused on two days in June and two days in Ju
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Cumberland County Farmer’s Market has went through a lot of changes in the last year. The market moved locations twice and added the WIC program. Vendor participation stayed steady at eight throughout most of the market season (April to October). Vendors offered a variety of products from meat, bread, jams and jellies, vegetables, fruits, etc. Three vendors have added high tunnels to their production system to extend their season. As of the end of November, the market had the highest r
Author: Bonnie Sigmon
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
~~The Laurel County Farmers Market is open three days a week from May till mid-October. The market facility is located in the heart of downtown London. The facility is an open shed design with attached restroom facilities, and a large stage on one end. The market sits on London City property and was built buy contributions from the county, city, and the Laurel Co. Agricultural Development fund. The market voted to host several unique events during regular market times, in an ef
Author: Bonnie Sigmon
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
~~The Laurel County Farmers Market, the City of London and the Laurel County Extension Office collaborated for the 2nd Annual Farmers Feast. The Farmers Feast program entailed a dinner where all ingredients are locally sourced. The dinner was an exclusive ticketed event held at the farmers market with half the proceeds going to Gods Pantry. The tickets were $20 a person and 200 tickets were sold. The Laurel County Cattleman and ANR agent prepared a “trash can dinner”. The dinne
Author: Victor Williams
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
~~The Laurel County Farmers Market, the City of London and the Laurel County Extension Office collaborated for the 2nd Annual Farmers Feast. The Farmers Feast program entailed a dinner where all ingredients are locally sourced. The dinner was an exclusive ticketed event held at the farmers market with half the proceeds going to Gods Pantry. The tickets were $20 a person and 200 tickets were sold. The Laurel County Cattleman and ANR agent prepared a “trash can dinner”. The dinne
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 and Door Prizes. 740 plus customers attended this weekend event that spotlighted Montgomery Counties 22 F
Author: Mary McCarty
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Menifee County Farmers Market serves the citizens of Menifee County two days a week during the summer months for 14 weeks. Fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices are a must for our local residents.Menifee County market vendors participate in Senior Farmers Market Vouchers and WIC Vouchers. Half of market vendors also accept SNAP benefits at their stands. Without the support of the community the market would not be sustainable. During Farmers Market week in t
Author: Robert Marsh
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Rowan County has around 25 farms that sell agricultural products at the local farmers markets in Rowan and surrounding counties. Each year for the last six years Cooperative Extension has collaborated with the health department, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Community Farm Alliance, the University of Kentucky Food Systems Innovation Center, and other county farmers markets to conduct a multi-county training for farmers market vendors. Hundreds of vendors have attended over the years and ap
Author: Deborah Stumbo
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The Pikeville Farmers Market and the Pike County Extension Offices sponsored the Annual Appalachian Heirloom Seed Swap on April 7th at Pike Central High School. We had over 40 vendors and over 400 participants. Day started with the Pumpkin/Squash Cutting and continued with swap, trainings/etc. Trainings included KSU demo of the Honey Bee Hive Sterilization Unit, and included Sharing Seeds and Stories (Ben Cohen/Small House Farm), Appalachian Heirloom Vegetables-Italian Accent (
Author: Sarah Fannin
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
For the last six years. Cooperative Extension Service ANR agents in Morgan, Rowan, Lewis, Elliott and Carter Counties have co-hosted an annual educational training evening for Farmers Market vendors. These sessions have utilized cutting edge researchers and state resource providers to educate over 300 vendors in the latest production, value-added, and marketing practices. This series also provides an opportunity for farmers to network with growers from other counties. As a result
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Since fresh fruits and vegetables are often consumed raw or with little processing, producing them safely by avoiding contamination by microorganisms that cause food borne illnesses is important. To help growers continue to keep the produce safe, the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Agent for Horticulture Education taught the science-based Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training to members of the farmers’ market. The training topics covered included proper methods for us
Author: Keith Hackworth
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Directed by the needs assessment from our leadership, Extension has been involved with home gardeners and small scale producers. We strive to educate them about horticultural crops and their production. Several educational programs were offered to those interested in home and commercial vegetable production. Because of these efforts, thirty-one individuals are producing vegetable crops for the first time this year. Most are low income producers. These individuals are producing fruits and vegetab
Author: John Fourqurean
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The McLean County Farmers market has been in operation for many years and the success it has enjoyed in the past is a direct result of the hard work by the McLean County Farmers Market Vendors. A unique collaborative effort between the Farmers market vendors, a local banking institution, McLean County Cooperative Extension Service, city of Sacramento and a local church are helping the Farmers Market provide nutritious, wholesome and fresh produce to local citizens in McLean County at four locati
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Members of the Harlan County Agriculture Advancement council saw the need for more information and education opportunities for producer growers in the county. The Harlan County Extension Service along with the Harlan County Farmers Market and Pine Mountain Settlement School worked together to design a curriculum to better equip gardeners with information and conduct a five month long series of produce production workshops, at two locations, along with a Produce Best Practices Training
Author: Lynn Blankenship
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
According to Kentucky Health Facts: Only 19 - 23 % of residents in Metcalfe County consume the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables daily. 20% of Metcalfe County Adult residents are diagnosed with having type II Diabetes and 33% of adults in Metcalfe County are missing 6 or more teeth. In order to make the freshest, best tasting and most affordable produce available locally, the Metcalfe County Farmer's market operates on Friday's from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. from
Author: Lori Bowling
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The third year for the Boyd County Farmers Market location at the local hospital has increased 50% in vendors and has total sales increased by 30% from the first year it opened. This locations success is due in part to many local producers finding that this market it thriving with not only customers from the hospital itself but with the number of senior and WIC voucher recipients redeeming their vouchers at this location increasing with each year it is open. At the close of the secon
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. Webster County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources led the task of organizing and opening the market. Since the marke
Author: Gregory Comer
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Farmers markets play an extremely important role for both farmers and consumers. 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 2017. The City of Beaver Dam invested more resources for advertising and
Author: Amy Aldenderfer
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The five-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, encour
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
Author: Courtney Jenkins
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Post-harvest handling is an aspect of fruit and vegetable production that is often disregarded when growing fruits and vegetables for market. Failing to properly handle and prepare produce for consumers can not only result in the spread of bacteria and disease, having detrimental impact on farmers and their business, but also negatively affect the quality and shelf-life.To help address this issue, the CEA for ANR partnered with Grow Appalachia in the spring of 2018 to host a Post-Harvest Handlin
Author: Mattea Mitchell
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Hickman County Farmer's Market has been in operation now for a full year. Bringing locally produced foods to our community, this market has become heavily utilized. Not only is the market been used for "market hours", but it has been utilized for educational programming for the youth and many other community based events as well. Opening Day of MarketLocal Foods Offered at MarketFarmers Market CelebrationOn June 30, Hickman County Extension Office hosted a Farmers Market
