Farm Fresh to Table is a program that brought multiple groups within the Mercer County community together to provide fresh produce to youth in need. The Mercer County Horticulture Agent partnered with Heart of Kentucky United Way, Mercer County Community Endowment, Mercer County Schools, and Mercer County Farmers Market.  

Throughout the summer children would visit the farmers market once a month and receive a bag of produce valued at $20. The bags also include other local products like meat, honey, baked goods, eggs, and recipes that correlated with the items in the bags. Participants in the program receive $20 in veggie vouchers to spend at the Farmers Market.

This is the fourth year for this program. In the past our target audience was elementary aged youth, this year we switched to youth in high school. We saw an increase in returned veggies vouchers as the teenagers shopped at the market on their own. This program does not only promote our local market and economy but teaches money management and communication skills for the youth shopping at the market.