Author: Courtney Jenkins
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The increase in grocery store food prices, coupled with the recent local food movement, has driven consumers to seek out fresh, local food options. These factors, among others, have certainly contributed to the success of the Magoffin County Farmers’ Market.After working with community leaders and potential vendors to facilitate the establishment of the county’s first farmers’ market in 2015, the CEA for ANR has focused on educational trainings to improve marketing and increase
Author: Kathryn Wimberley
On 28 June, 2019, the Horticulture Agent for McCracken County offered Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT) to the Master Food and Master Gardener Extension Service volunteers. This agent was qualified as a trainer. (Previously the Hort Agent was trained by UK and KDA to offer training in her county to venders and educators at area farmers markets and roadside stands.)The Agent was given the proper documentation to train those groups which offer samples of raw produce at roadside or farmers mar
Author: Kristin Hildabrand
The SOKY Marketplace is a unique venue that has added value to the Downtown Bowling Green, KY scene. First established in 2014, this historic location has continued to grow and now offers many things including the upstairs commercial kitchen, outdoor farmers’ market pavilion for local food producers to offer fresh seasonal produce on a weekly basis, as well as the Crop Shop that extends the farmers market during the weekdays on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 3:00pm until
Author: Cecelia Hostilo
The Cadiz/Trigg County Farmers Market is a great source of fresh vegetables and fruits for our local community. 2018-19 continued with market locations downtown on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and in the parking lot of the Trigg County Health Department on Wednesday afternoons. The Health Department location has helped to increase the number of WIC vouchers being redeemed from 67% to 94%.The Extension FCS agent set up informational booths at the Farmers Market once in July and onc
Author: Sarah Imbus
Understanding where your food comes from, the importance of healthy movement and active lifestyle, and following recipes to prepare healthy meals for families can be overwhelming for many. Agents Ronda Rex, Kate Thomason, and Sarah Stolz collaborated with a FREE 6 week series program titled: Couch Potato Challenge Series. This program provided research based information to 21participants and gave them tools and resources on how to increase walking steps while improving their exercise activity, s
Author: Jeffrey Casada
The Clay County Community Farmer’s Market is in its’ fifth season. 2018 has been a successful market season with gross annual sales exceeding $40,000.00. Sales are up over $10,000 from 2017.The market participates in the Senior Voucher Program and Women Infant and Children (WIC), and through a Community Farm Alliance Grant, participates in the Double Dollars Program. This has returned more than $2400 to consumers. The market has also received $971.50 from The Foundation for App
Author: Deborah Stumbo
The disappearance of many of the heirloom varieties of seeds, is a concern for many. Anyone from professional plant breeders to the local enthusiast's find heirlooms fascinating. Because of the isolating mountains of eastern Kentucky, many of the heirlooms varieties have been preserved. The heirlooms are bred for taste and specific topography/weather, while most of the more recent varieties are bred for storage, long life, or even mechanical picking not taste. For mul
Eastern Kentucky has the highest food insecurity in the United States and is considered a food dessert. In Pike County, 11,750 individuals (18.7% of county population) are not sure where their next meal will come from. 71% of the population of Pike County qualify for SNAP, WIC, Free School Meals, CSFP & TEFAP. The Pikeville Farmers Market participates in the WIC, SR Vouchers, Double Dollars programs to help both our local people and the local farmers. These programs have added he
Author: Amy Aldenderfer
The seven-year collaboration continues between the Hardin County Farmers’ Market, the Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service and the Lincoln Trail Area Master Gardeners.The Master Gardeners provide samples, recipes and information to the shoppers at the Hardin County Farmer’s Market once a month through the growing/selling season. The Master Gardeners prepare two recipes from the Kentucky Proud Plate It Up! Series. Then, pass out samples to the patrons of the Market, encouraging
Author: Linda Hieneman
In 2004 the Master Gardener organization created the first Farmers Market in Greenup County. This allows farmers to direct market their farm products to a local customer base. Consumers today want to purchase locally produced farm fresh products straight from the hands that grew it. Senior Citizens in Greenup County do not receive the Senior Citizens Farmers Market vouchers. Many of the surrounding counties receive these vouchers and are able to purchase produce and items f
Author: Gregory Comer
Farmer’s Markets play an critical role for both farmers and consumers in communities. They bring urban and rural communities together, while creating economic growth and increasing access to fresh, healthy foods. USDA data show there are over 8200 Farmer’s Market listed in the National Farmer’s Market Directory nationwide, a 76% increase since 2008. The Beaver Dam Farmer’s Market flourished in 2018. The City of Beaver Dam invested more resou
Author: Mattea Mitchell
This is the second full year for the Hickman County Farmers Market to be open to the public. To celebrate such an asset to our community, Extension teamed up with Fiscal Court and the Rotary Park committee to host a celebration event.Local vendors were invited to set up at regular opening time for the market. For the actual celebration event, kid’s activities, local talent, free food, recipe samples and other local vendors (Women’s Club, Chamber, Extension, SNAP, etc.) set up and dre
Author: Kayla Walton
Menifee County, as well as many other Eastern Kentucky counties has a high obesity and chronic disease risk rate, especially in low-income audiencces. Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables has been shown to decrease risk of some chronic diseases and improve health outcomes. The Farmer's Market provides an opportunity for the community to purchase local produce and is in a desirable location for shoppers. This also helps financially support the local economy and farming community.&n
Author: Paul Sizemore
Tobacco was the primary income for farmers in this area for many years and since the buyout from the Tobacco Companies in 2001 it has been a struggle for farmers to replace it. Farmers quickly realized that they had to start producing something else to sustain their operations and for many the answer was Vegetable Production. It was obvious that the farmers had a good grasp on production but the problem seem to be in Marketing because that was something they had not had to do in Tobacco Producti
Author: Gary Hamilton
The Farmers' Market provides an economic benefit and healthy nutritional role to the citizens of Mt. Sterling and Montgomery County. To help show it's customers how much they are appreciated, the Farmers Market Executive Board with the help of the Extension Service, organized a very successful Customer Appreciation Event. The event included: Food, Educational Demonstrations, Displays, Health Screenings and Door Prizes. 1000 plus customers attended this weekend event that spotlighted Mont
Author: Jessica Bessin
The Mercer County Horticulture program has offered a new exciting program aimed at the back yard gardener who may have grown a little too much produce. “So you want to join the farmers market” was a series of classes for those who are on the fence about selling their extra produce at the local farmers market. The idea for this series of classes was thought up by an engaged community member who also happens to be a Master Gardener that partnered with the Mercer County Horticultu
Author: David Koester
We have had the goal of increasing the product mix and lengthening the sales season of our Specialty Crop producers. Many areas of the country with much shorter growing seasons than Northern Kentucky have year round markets and provide customers with a more diverse product mix.To address this issue and make growers and potential growers aware of the many possibilities a Specialty Crop Conference was planned with Northern Kentucky Agriculture and Horticulture agents as well as University of
Author: Lori Bowling
The Boyd County Farmers Market is in it's 40th year and to date this past season has shown an increase in total market sales of 12.5% and the most annual sales for the market in the past 40 years. With the addition of the location at the local hospital, offering payroll deduction to hospital employees, the market became a viable location for new farmers looking for an outlet for their product. The location that has remained out in the county for years also saw an increase in sale
