Local Food Systems 2023Plan of Work

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Warren County CES

Title:
Local Food Systems 2023
MAP:
Community Vitality
Agents Involved:
Joanna Coles, Kristin Hildabrand, Kristi Shive
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food System Development and Mapping
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Home-Based Microprocessor Program
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Small Farm Diversification
Situation:

Local food continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets and institutions (including schools).  Sales exceeded anticipated sales numbers to over $28 million in 2017.  Consumers and contract buyers lack year round safe access to locally produced and/or processed foods. Extension serves as a resource to provide training to ensure locally grown food is safe, appropriate to meet local food demand, and meets purchasing compliance. Extension also works with local partners to increase awareness and profitability of local farms.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:

Certifications Earn certification(s) for:

Amend purchasing procedure to accommodate local food purchasing

Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of local foods through access and handling 

Indicator: Participation in educational training as well as an increase in consumers at the local farmers markets. 

Method: Observation, participation logs 

Timeline: July 2022-June 2024


Intermediate Outcome: Increase in producer certifications and utilization of alternative funds for local produce.

Indicator: Increase in revenue by alternative funds and the amount of certifications received.

Method: Observation, participation logs, survey

Timeline: July 2022-June 2024 


Long-term Outcome: Increased revenue for local producers; increasing the number of consumer and businesses purchasing local foods.

Indicator: Number of producers increasing revenue and amount of product sold. 

Method: Observation, Word of Mouth and Survey 

Timeline: July 2020-2024

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Commercial Producers

Project or Activity: Homebased & Micro-Processing Training & Sampling Certification

Content or Curriculum: Micro-Processing Training Curriculum

Inputs: Materials, meeting rooms, test graders

Date: Seasonally/Ongoing


Audience: Commercial Horticulture Producers & Market Gardeners

Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT) & Sampling Certification

Content or Curriculum: Produce Best Practices Training Modules & Food Systems Innovation Center

Inputs: Handout materials, meeting rooms

Date: Spring, Summer and Fall 


Audience: Home Gardeners and Consumers

Project or Activity:  Farmer's Market "Ask a Master Gardener" Booth

Content or Curriculum: Home Vegetable Gardening CES publications, Plate it Up! Kentucky Proud, Home Preservation Extension publication

Inputs: Extension Master Gardeners, Food sampling, Recipe cards, etc. 

Date: Seasonally throughout the year - Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter


Audience:  Consumers

Project or Activity:  KY Farms KY Flavors

Content or Curriculum:  Meet the Farmer & Commodity

Inputs:  Agent's Time, Staff Assistant's Time, YouTube, Facebook

Date:  Ongoing


Audience:  Consumers

Project or Activity:  Grow, Cook, Eat

Content or Curriculum:  MyPlate, Nutrition, Plate It Up KY Proud

Inputs:  Agent's Time, Staff Assistant's Time, YouTube

Date:  Ongoing


Audience: Food Entrepreneurs

Project or Activity: Community Kitchen Development & Technical Assistance

Content or Curriculum: Workshops on Food Entrepreneurships, Food  Entrepreneurs Scholarships

Inputs: Agent’s Time, Staff Assistant’s Time, Partnerships in Food

Date: Ongoing



Success Stories

Increasing Local Food Access and Farm Profitability

Author: Joanna Coles

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Increasing access to local food and improving farm profitability are essential goals for our community.  In partnership with SOKY Marketplace, Warren County Local Government, Farmers, the Housing Authority, and the UK Cooperative Extension Service are working toward improving access and farm profitability.   We found in a study that people didn’t attend the farmers' market because the hours were not convenient, or they didn’t have time to shop at the Farmers market. &nb

Full Story
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