Bourbon County CES

Title:

Producers-Local Food Systems

MAP:

Local Food Systems

Agents Involved:

Tackett, ANR agent (TBA)

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Commercial Horticulture

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Commercial Horticulture - Crop Marketing

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Farmer's Markets

Situation:

Local food continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets and institutions (including schools). However, there is a disconnection between the production, processing, marketing and distribution segments of the local food system, especially for small and minority farmers. With sales from Kentucky food products expected to increase from $14 million (2014) to $24 million in 2020, Extension has resources to educate agricultural producers in production, value added opportunities, business planning, and marketing strategies to expand the local food system for the demand.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Increase in the number of vendors, variety of local food products, sales and/or profits at farmer’s markets, road side stands, or community supported agriculture

Increase access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions

Maintain or increase consumer confidence/ demand in local foods

Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Applied Extension Resources for Planning and Decision Making

•Develop an Ag Plan using decision making tools ( i.e. cost efficiency)

•Create a budget and/or marketing plan

•Diversify the types and varieties of produce grow and sold

•Apply best management practices in marketing (i.e. pricing)

•Apply food safety practices and/or procedures (G.A.P, etc.)

•Select alternative crops that show profit potential

Earn certification(s) for:

•Redeeming USDA script (i.e. WIC or Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program)

•selling and /or providing samples at farmer’s markets

•Home Based Microprocessing

•Microprocessing

•Better Processing Control School

•USDA GAP

Created and marketed safe food products

•Apply food safety practices (G.A.P, etc)

•Create value added agricultural food items

•Market agricultural products locally

Initial Outcomes:

•Review types and varieties of produce

•Locate crop profiles, decision tools and resources

•Describe advantages and disadvantages of marketing strategies (i.e. CSA, U-Pick, Farm to School, freezer beef)

•Interpret food safety handling procedures

•Understand procedures for safe food processing

•Interpret purchasing rules and regulations from contract buyers

•Research liability issues related to food safety

•Identify production methods and agricultural food products that extend the growing season (i.e. high tunnels, hydroponics)

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Number of producers reporting increase in awareness of issues noted in 'short term outcomes'

Indicator:

number of producers reporting: growing variety of produce based on market demand, taking part in food safety training, reviewing processing information, reviewing/attending programs on extending growing seasons

Method:

end of meeting evaluations, follow up online evaluations, site visits

Timeline:

2017-2018

Intermediate Outcome:

number of commercial producers reporting practice changes made in the areas outlined in 'medium term outcomes'

Indicator:

number of producers who: develop general operations plans, create marketing plans, improve food safety practices, complete microprocessor training, attend GAP training

Method: pre/post meting evaluations, 3 month follow up online surveys

Timeline:

2017-2020

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: total increase of vendors selling direct to consumers, increased variety of local food products, schools using local foods, farm productivity improved

Method: pre/post meeting evaluations, 6 month meeting follow up surveys, site visits,

Timeline: 2017-2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:

Commercial Producers

Project or Activity:

GAP trainings

Content or Curriculum:

State GAP training materials

Inputs: GAP materials

Date: Spring 2018

Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity: alternative hort crop mtgs

Content or Curriculum: UK Center for Crop Diversification information

Inputs: Local office resources, UK specialists/research materials

Date: Winter 2017

Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

marketing local foods meeting

Content or Curriculum:

UK publications

Inputs: Agents time, local Extension Office resources, Specialists/research publications

Date: Spring 2019

Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

 area producers/buyers meetings

Content or Curriculum:

UK publications, state market price reports

Inputs: time from buyers, UK Ag Economic publications, specialist time

Date: fall/winter 2018

Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

general vegetable productions meeting(s)

Content or Curriculum: UK production publications, Center for Crop Diversification crop profiles

Inputs: Agent time, specialists

Date: Ongoing 2018-2020

Success Stories