Extension
It Starts With Us
Home and Commercial Horticulture
Horticulture
Wayne Kirby
Horticulture, Commercial
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Local Food Systems
Local food, flowers and plants continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets, schools, and the local people. It is anticipated that sales of Kentucky food products will from $14 million in 2014 to $24 million in 2020. Consumers and contract buyers lack year round safe access to locally produced products like produce, flowers and plants. Extension serves as resource to provide training to insure locally grown food is safe appropriate to meet local food demand and consumer demand.
*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.
•Apply best management practices in marketing
•Apply food safety practices and/or procedures
Earn certification(s) for:
•Redeeming USDA script
•selling and /or providing samples at farmer’s markets
•Microprocessing
•Better Process Control School
•USDA GAP
Choose local food products when available
•Purchase local food and food products
•Advocate for local food producers (i.e. feature on menus)
•Amend purchasing procedure to accommodate local food purchasing
Contract buyers/ Consumers will:
•Identify/ locate local food producers and processors
•Explain local food needs and purchasing procedures (i.e. quantity, quality, deliver, etc.)
Initial Outcome: Identify/ locate local food producers and processors
Indicator: Consumers will buy local produce at Farmer's Market/local vendors
Method: Observation
Timeline: Throughout year
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will choose local food products when available. Individuals will purchase local food and food products from local producers. Individuals will advocate for local food producers (i.e. feature on menus)
Indicator: Amend purchasing procedure to accommodate local food purchasing and selling
Method: Observation , year end profits from Farmer's Market, attendance at Farmers market
Timeline: Throughout year
Long-term Outcome: *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 community support
Indicator: Farmers Market continues to grow and consumer confidence is shown by supporting local foods. Local schools/business buy local produce.
Method: Observation, sales
Timeline: Throughout program
Audience: Farmers market vendors
Project or Activity: farmers market
Content or Curriculum: horticulture publications
Inputs: UK and KSU faculty, publications, research trials, CCD, Commodity growers
Date: Summer
Audience: Commercial growers
Project or Activity: Educational programs, demonstrations, field days, soil testing
Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publication
Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, publications, research trials
Date: Throughout year
Audience: Non-Commercial growers
Project or Activity: Educational programs, demonstrations, field days, soil testing
Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publication
Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, publications, research trials
Date: Throughout year
Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Farm visits, field scouting, workshops, soil testing
Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publication
Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, publications, research trials
Date: Throughout year
Audience: General public
Project or Activity: educational programs, demonstrations, beekeeper association
Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publications
Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, pubs
Date: Throughout year
