Author: Jessica Bessin
Planning Unit: Mercer County CES
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Plan of Work: Agriculture and Horticulture
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
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.
With Harrodsburgs 250th anniversary right around the corner the Harrodsburgs local Tree Board has be... Read More
Due to the growing interest in beekeeping and the increase in members to local bee clubs the Boyle a... Read More
With Harrodsburgs 250th anniversary right around the corner the Harrodsburgs local Tree Board has be... Read More
Due to the growing interest in beekeeping and the increase in members to local bee clubs the Boyle a... Read More
Our community wants to be more resiliency and sustainable. One way to promote that is by offering a ... Read More
The Dominican Republic was the first producer of organic bananas during past years but in 2023 it wa... Read More