The Madison County Horticulture Agent supported commercial horticulture producers this past year in several ways. Specific focus areas were increasing farm revenue and food safety.

In the fall and spring, the Agent worked with Kentucky Horticulture Council and visited with farmers who were participating in the Kentucky Small Fruits Initiative, a program designed to provide technical and financial support to small fruit crop growers expanding and establishing small fruit crop enterprises (small fruit includes crops such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries). The Agent discussed planting, maintenance and post production options with participating farmers. Several of these growers now have perennial crop plantings established, meaning that with good management, annual returns can be expected for the next 10 to 20 years.

Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT) is a Kentucky-specific voluntary basic food safety training. It is designed to address potential food contamination issues between the farm and the consumer. Both Farmer’s Markets in Madison County require all vendors to complete this training. This is also a prerequisite for completing the Food Sampling Certificate offered through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The Sampling Certificate allows vendors to offer sampling of raw fruits and vegetables at KDA Farmers Markets and Farm Bureau Roadside Stands. The Agent shared with participants information regarding making a food safety plan, requirements of FDA’s FSMA, as well as COVID-19 food safety information. The trainings were done via ZOOM and face to face. Once the training was complete, the Agent administered a quiz and when the participant passed, their information was sent on to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture so that they could issue a certificate to the producer. Ten farms completed PBPT in Madison County this year.