Knox County CES

Title:

Home and Commercial Horticulture

MAP:

Horticulture

Agents Involved:

Wayne Kirby, Danielle Barrett

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Commercial Horticulture

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Commercial Horticulture - Crop Marketing

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Farmer's Markets

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Home & Consumer Horticulture

Situation:

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.

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:

• 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

Initial Outcomes:

Contract buyers/ Consumers
• Identify/ locate local food producers and processors
• Explain local food needs and purchasing procedures (i.e. quantity, quality, deliver, etc.)

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Identify/ locate local food producers and processors

Indicator: Consumers will buy local produce at Farmer's Market/local vendors

Method: Observation

Timeline: 2016-2017

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: 2017-2018

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: 2017-2018

Learning Opportunities:

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: 2017-2018

Audience: Commercial growers

Project or Activity: Educational programs, demonstrations, field days

Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publication

Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, publications, research trials

Date: 2017-2018

Audience: Non-Commercial growers

Project or Activity: Educational programs, demonstrations, field days

Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publication

Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, publications, research trials

Date: 2017-2018

Audience: general public

Project or Activity: Farm visits, field scouting, workshops

Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publication

Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, publications, research trials

Date: 2017-2018

Audience: General public

Project or Activity: educational programs, demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publications

Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, pubs

Date: 2017-2018

Success Stories