Warren County CES

Title:

Local Food Systems Ag

MAP:

Agriculture

Agents Involved:

Joanna Coles, Kristin Hildabrand & Kristi Shive

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food System Development and Mapping

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Home-Based Microprocessor Program

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Small Farm Diversification

Situation:

Local food continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets and institutions (including schools). It is anticipated that sales of Kentucky food products will grow from $14 million in 2014 to $24 million in 2020. Consumers and contract buyers lack year round safe access to locally produced and/or processed foods. Extension serves as resource to provide training to insure locally grown food is safe, appropriate to meet local food demand, and meets purchasing compliance.

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

•Strong and diverse local food systems are integrated into community development efforts.

•Maintain or increase consumer confidence/ demand in local foods

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Certifications Earn certification(s) for:

oRedeeming USDA script (i.e. WIC or Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program)

oselling and /or providing samples at farmer’s markets

oHome Based Micro-processing

oMicro-processing

oUSDA GAP

•Choose local food products when available

•Purchase local food and food products

Amend purchasing procedure to accommodate local food purchasing

Initial Outcomes:

•Increased awareness among general public, increased access to "local" foods; Communities begin listening sessions to discuss their goals in local foods; local land use and other policies supportive of new food initiatives

•Interpret food safety handling procedures

•Understand procedures for safe food processing

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of local foods through access and handling

Indicator: Participation in educational training as well as an increase in consumers at the local farmers markets.

Method: Observation, participation logs

Timeline: July 2022 - June 2024

Intermediate Outcome: Increase in producer certifications and utilization of alternative funds for local produce.

Indicator: Increase in revenue by alternative funds and the amount of certifications received.

Method: Observation, participation logs, survey

Timeline: July 2022 - June 2024

Long-Term Outcome: Increased revenue for local producers; increasing the number of consumer and businesses purchasing local foods.

Indicators: Number of producers increasing revenue and amount of product sold.

Method: Observation, Word of Mouth and Survey

Timeline: July 2020 - 2024

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Commercial Producers

Project or Activity: Home-based Micro-Processing

Content or Curriculum: Micro-Processing

Inputs: Materials, meeting rooms, test graders

Date: Seasonally/Ongoing

Audience: Commercial horticulture food producers & market growers 

Project or Activity: Senior Farmers Market Trainings

Content or Curriculum: Seniors Farmers market curriculum from KDA

Inputs: Handout materials, meeting rooms

Date: Ongoing throughout the year

Audience: Commercial & sustainable horticulture market gardeners 

Project or Activity: Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

Content or Curriculum: GAP curriculum from KDA & KY Div. of Public Health

Inputs: Handout materials, meeting rooms

Date: Ongoing throughout the year

Audience: Farmers and Consumers

Project or Activity: Farmer’s Market

Content or Curriculum: Commercial vegetable gardening

Inputs: Speakers, material

Date: Throughout the year

Audience: Low Income Senior Citizens & Adults, Adults & School Aged Youth

Project or Activity: Taste of the Farmers Market

Content or Curriculum: KY Proud Recipe Cards, Food Stamp Nutrition Education,

Nutrition Education Calendars

Inputs: Agent’s Time, Staff Assistant’s Time, table, serving products, recipe cards,

produce

Date: Summer 2020

Audience: Consumers

Project or Activity: KY Farms KY Flavors

Content or Curriculum: Meet the Farmer & Commodity

Inputs: Agent’s Time, Staff Assistant’s Time, YouTube

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Food Entrepreneurs

Project or Activity: Community Kitchen Development & Technical Assistance

Content or Curriculum: Feasibility Study, Workshops on Food Entrepreneurship

Inputs: Agent’s Time, Staff Assistant’s Time, Partnerships in Food

Date: Ongoing