Bourbon County CES

Title:

Producers-Local Food Systems

MAP:

Local Food Systems

Agents Involved:

Tackett, Wilson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Commercial Horticulture

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Commercial Horticulture - Crop Marketing

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Farmer's Markets

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:

Applied Extension Resources for Planning and Decision Making
• 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 (G.A.P, etc.)
• Select alternative crops that show profit potential

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 Microprocessing
• Microprocessing
• Better Processing Control School
• USDA GAP

Created and marketed safe food products
• Apply food safety practices (G.A.P, etc)
• 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:

Initial Outcome:

Number of producers reporting increase in awareness of issues noted in 'short term outcomes'

Indicator:

number of producers reporting: growing variety of produce based on market demand, taking part in food safety training, reviewing processing information, reviewing/attending programs on extending growing seasons

Method:

end of meeting evaluations, follow up online evaluations, site visits

Timeline:

2017-2018

Intermediate Outcome:

number of commercial producers reporting practice changes made in the areas outlined in 'medium term outcomes'

Indicator:

number of producers who: develop general operations plans, create marketing plans, improve food safety practices, complete microprocessor training, attend GAP training

Method: pre/post meting evaluations, 3 month follow up online surveys

Timeline:

2017-2020

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: total increase of vendors selling direct to consumers, increased variety of local food products, schools using local foods, farm productivity improved

Method: pre/post meeting evaluations, 6 month meeting follow up surveys, site visits,

Timeline: 2017-2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:
Commercial Producers
Project or Activity:
GAP trainings
Content or Curriculum:
State GAP training materials
Inputs: GAP materials
Date: Spring 2017

Audience:
commercial producers
Project or Activity: alternative hort crop mtgs
Content or Curriculum: UK Center for Crop Diversification information
Inputs: Local office resources, UK specialists/research materials
Date: Winter 2017

Audience:
commercial producers
Project or Activity:
marketing local foods meeting
Content or Curriculum:
UK publications
Inputs: Agents time, local Extension Office resources, Specialists/research publications
Date: Spring 2017

Audience:
commercial producers
Project or Activity:
regional producers/buyers meeting
Content or Curriculum:
UK publications, state market price reports
Inputs: time from buyers, UK Ag Economic publications, specialist time
Date: fall/winter 2017

Audience:
commercial producers
Project or Activity:
general vegetable productions meeting(s)
Content or Curriculum: UK production publications, Center for Crop Diversification crop profiles
Inputs: Agent time, specialists
Date: Ongoing 2016-2020