Knox County CES

Title:

Home and Commercial Horticulture

MAP:

Horticulture

Agents Involved:

Wayne Kirby

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Commercial

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Local Food Systems

Situation:

Local food, flowers and plants continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets, schools, and the local people. 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 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 will:

•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: 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

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: Summer 2024/2025

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: Spring/Summer/Fall

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: Spring 2025

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: Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

Audience: General public

Project or Activity: educational programs, demonstrations, beekeeper association

Content or Curriculum: Horticulture publications

Inputs: UK, KSU specialist, pubs

Date: Spring 2025