It is estimated that food travels approximately 1,500 miles from the farm to your plate. Many of Kentucky's Farmers are part of the larger food economy, but communities across the Commonwealth are moving towards smaller food systems, that often come with higher premiums for agricultural products for the farmers.

Pendleton County ANR Agent is working alongside farmers and the foodservice industry to cultivate relationships that offer restaurants and groceries with top-quality freshness while providing sustainable economic income to the local family farms. Seven local farm operations through Extension relationships are cooperating with local restaurants, breweries, and farm shops to sell local products to the local population. These partnerships have:

• Allowed increased premiums for farm products
• Increased opportunities for added-value product development (value-added increases profits)
• Established better access to local and fresh produce for the community

A mere 1% of Pendleton County Farms are taking advantage of direct marketing opportunities according to the 2019 Ag Census. There is room "at the table" for other farms to join in the move of becoming "price-makers" to gain higher premiums, leading to increased farm product sales. 81% of Pendleton County's farms have less than $10,000 in sales annually, which correlates with the decrease of farms of the county, which is partly due to nominal profit margins and farm transitions. It is the mission of ANR Agent and local farmers to shift these farms into the 10k-20k sale category.

Through increased efforts of establishing viable local marketplaces for farmers, we will cultivate a more vibrant community that is healthier (access to fresh), and retain our agricultural essence by keeping farmers farming.

Fairy Rose Farm with Alexandria Brewing and their grew to brew collaboration of Ginger Ale.