Cut flower production is a growing, profitable horticulture enterprise segment in Kentucky and KHC has identified more than 125 operations across the state. Since July is nationally recognized as American Grown Cut Flower Month, for 2022, a social media promotional campaign highlighted cut flower growers across the state. The target was to feature at least one grower per day on KHC’s social media channels. A change to previous years’ campaigns was to launch a dedicated Facebook page – Kentucky Grown Cut Flower Promotion – that is dedicated to year-round tips & tricks, floral design videos, webinars on growing and marketing cut flowers and continued promotion of KY cut flower farms. A total of 51 Kentucky cut flower growers were featured between July 1-31. Within a month of concluding the campaign, analysis indicated the promotional campaign reached nearly 133,870 social media users across 4 platforms, with high impression (18,211) and engagement (9,634) metrics during the month and engagement is expected to continue after the promotion has ended with continually updated content on the Facebook page. 

A new addition to the 4th annual campaign was adding videos – demonstrations of flower arranging as well as virtual farm tours at Color Me Mod Farm (Hardin), Boxcroft Garden (Hopkins), Red Barn Blooms (Ohio), Gray Arbor Farm (Scott) and Blossom Hill Farm (Muhlenberg). 

As part of the campaign to highlight growers, the existing interactive map developed in 2020 was updated to make it easy for customers to identify purchasing options based on geographic location. This map, hosted on the UK CCD website, currently has 115 farms featured and new growers are continually being added to the map. The number of listed growers has increased from 35 to 64 to 99 to 115 from 2020, 2021, and 2022, 2023, respectively. 

Kentucky Cut Flower Industry Impact – 2023 Report of Activities 2 

The project team sent out a grower survey via email to determine the impact of the promotion. Most participating growers thought the event was good to excellent (83%) and all (100%) would participate in future campaigns. Benefits included 73% of the participants gained new followers on social media and specific comments included: 

“love the comradery” 

“enjoyed seeing everyone's promotion” and 

“impressed with the concept”. 

Feedback determined programming priorities include marketing strategies, business planning, and production planning. Research needs identified by this grower group included market assessment, variety trials, and pest management. 

The 2023 promotional campaign is scheduled for July 1- 31, with several suggestions for improvement planned.