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