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 Microprocessing
• Microprocessing
• Better Processing Control School
• USDA GAP

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