HorticulturePlan of Work

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Menifee County CES

Title:
Horticulture
MAP:
Home and Consumer Horticulture
Agents Involved:
McCarty
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Commercial Horticulture
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:

•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


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 Microprocessor

•Microprocessing

•PBBT Certificate


Created and marketed safe food products

•Apply food safety practices

•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:


Long-term Outcome: Vendor numbers will increase at local farmers market. Sales will also increase


Intermediate Outcome: Producers will receive certifications to help market their crops.


Initial Outcome: Producer will have an understanding in what production practices are needed to meet their goal and how they can make it happen.


Learning Opportunities:



Educational programs


Demonstrations


Field Days


Video conferencing / webinars


Media (radio, television, video, newsletters, newspaper articles, social media, etc.)


Farm and/or facility visits


Field Trials/walks/research plots


Networking events with producers and wholesale/retail buyers (including schools)


Agritourism events


Participants


Fruit and vegetables growers


Farmer’s Market vendors’


Wholesale and retail food agents


School food service directors


Institutional purchasing agents




Success Stories

5th Graders Grow Mushrooms

Author: Mary McCarty

Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources

Less and less of today’s children spend it out in the great outdoors.  The ANR/4-H agent decided to bring a part of the forest into the classroom.  With the help of the fifth-grade teachers at MES their students learned about mushrooms during their 4-H Club time once a month.  Students were able to identify the parts of the mushroom and also created a taxonomy guide to help with identification of mushrooms.Students in February planted mushroom spawn into toilet paper rolls a

Full Story

Farmers Market during Covid 19

Author: Mary McCarty

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

The Menifee County Farmers Market started planning their 2020 Market Season long before we heard the words Covid 19.  Opening date was set for the earliest it had ever been, Mid May.  With Covid 19 creating havoc in the state of Kentucky a plan went into place to make sure that the market was safe for the vendors as well as the consumers.  Market leadership contacted the local health department and local officials to have a special egg sale early in April as well as plan to open t

Full Story
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