The problem:  Many clients do not realize the money they can save through shopping at the Farmers Market and preserving their own food for the coming months.

The educational program response:  For many of these clients, getting acquainted with Food Preservations items was an educational experience.  Food Preservation Publications from the University of Kentucky were also a new adventure.

The participants/target audience:  Of the fifty some clients that participated in the Food Preservations Classes, many had not ever canned, frozen or dehydrated an fresh produce. 

Other partners (if applicable)  Farmers selling their fresh produce at Farmers Markets.

Program impact or participant response.

Family and Consumer Sciences Extension helps families gain access to food and to stretch food dollars through shopping at the Farmers Market, growing their own produce, and preserving the fresh food. Through Food Preservation clients are taught how to select produce to can, food safety in canning, and the health benefits by purchasing local and fresh produce. These same clients receive help in understanding how to receive the special food vouchers to use at the Farmers Market to help with their food budget.  More than $10,000 was given out in Food Vouchers to these needed families.   Family and Consumer Sciences agents are pivotal in training consumers and producers to maximize local access to farm-to-table food products. The FCS Agent helps the clients in selecting the best produce to eat now to feed their family and how to purchase special items for canning. Most of the clients do not know that the Farmer has over ripped produce and badly shaped items they will sell at a reduced price that is not on the tables at the market.  Only one Farmers Market in Pulaski County is available to accept Food Vouchers, but several farmers offer produce weekly at farmers markets in the county. Free sampling of fresh produce with recipes, canning demonstration and publications, are given to the clients weekly and on Saturday to shoppers. Individual help is also offered to those that need one on one help when they feel like they need more help in canning or making a new dish by coming by the Extension Office.   Persons that are canning for the first time are invited to check out canners, dehydrators, or freezing supplies at the Pulaski Extension Office before they invest in purchasing these items.. One lady reported she had canned more than 900 quarts of green beans. She and her husband grew the beans, canned them, and sold the canned green beans at the Farmers Market to make extra money for the family.