The local food movement continues to grow nationwide with an increase in farmers markets as well as an increase in market vendors. Kentucky is no exception. Part of this growth can be attributed to Kentucky’s Homebased Microprocessing Program. The Homebased Microprocessing Program (HBM) is a unique collaboration with the UK Cooperative Extension Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department for Public Health - Food Safety Branch. The program allows Kentucky farmers to produce certain acidified and low acid canned foods in their home kitchens. Participants must grow the main ingredient in the products they process, and recipes must be approved by a food preservation specialist at the University of Kentucky to ensure product safety. Products can then be sold from their farm, a farmers market registered with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, or a KY Farm Bureau Certified Roadside Market which ultimately increases access to local food sources for customers and leads to an increase in profits for the farmer. 

Program participants must complete a five-hour training workshop focused on canning principles where they learn to differentiate between low acid and high acid foods and safely can fruits and vegetables using research-based recipes.  Participants also learn general food safety and sanitation principles. The Gant County Family & Consumer Science agent, Asa Conkwright, held an in-person workshop with 13 participants. With a pass rate of 100%, 13 new vendors can begin providing customers with quality home processed products to their communities.