While Metcalfe County has several Dollar Stores and one IGA, the produce variety available is very limited, of poor quality, and is very expensive.  The Metcalfe County Cooperative Extension Agents for FCS and ANR, started the Metcalfe County Farmers Market (MCFM) in 2008, as a community and economic development activity to develop a local foods system, with a May - September market season.  A secondary goal was for MCFM to serve as an outlet for nutrition education programs, where participants had easy access to fresh, affordable fruit and vegetable ingredients.

Metcalfe County Farmers Market extended it's 2022 season through Friday December 16th, utilizing the newly built - in "old farmers market pavilion" as a heated indoor market space.  This was an extension of the 2022 season by 4 weeks over previous years. 

MCFM has developed a network of 7, community partner businesses who donate an annual total of $6000.00 in cash and $1000 in-kind in signage, in support of the match for the KY Double Dollars and market manager cost share programs. Thanks to the available match, MCFM provided $3000.00 in additional income from the Community Farm Alliance (CFA) grant programs, to our producers in the form of Double Dollars and in support of our paid, part - time market manager.  MCFM brought in $6234.00 from non-member set - up fees and miscellaneous donations, over the amount donated through the community partners program, of which an additional $328.00 was returned to our producers, provided as local double dollars match on SNAP purchases, after the CFA double dollars grant money expended. 

The WIC/Senior Farmers Market nutrition voucher and SNAP programs brought in $10,084.00 income to our participating producers during the 2022 season.  Participating producers again reported annual income exceeding all previous years, at $62,343.00 for the season.  

According to the 2022 Senior Farmers Market state success report, 13 Farmers across the State claimed over $5000.00 income from Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Vouchers, one of which was a Metcalfe County producer participating in the Metcalfe County Farmers Market and the Bounty of the Barrens Farmers Market for the 2022 season.