Relevance: The Kentucky Value Chain Collaborative was established in early 2023 by The Food Connection in an effort to build soft infrastructure capacity for providing tailored technical assistance to Kentucky farmers around accessing additional markets for their farm products. This project supports three full time Value Chain Coordinators whose primary goal is to increase demand for Kentucky farm foods among mid to large scale buyers and add to farm gate receipts for Kentucky farmers. The Food Connection received funding for this project from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and UK Cooperative Extension.

Response: The response from farmers, buyers, and local food systems stakeholders has been tremendous in the first year of the pilot. 

One fifth generation farmer in Hancock Co. said the following about his experience working with our Western Kentucky Value Chain Coordinator: 

“Just for perspective, you [Brandi] have introduced us to $200,000 of potential sales and facilitated us saving $60,000 in interest. So just from a dollar perspective you are over a quarter million on our farm.” (Justin Obenchain, Obenchain Farms, Hancock Co. KY).

One Save A Lot owner reported the following about their experience working with our Central Kentucky Value Chain Coordinator:

“We operate two urban Save A Lot stores in Louisville that had never sourced produce straight from growers in Kentucky.  We were connected with Faye through the KY Double Dollars program.  She was able to assess our unique needs and then connect us with a grower that met these needs.  This partnership has exceeded our expectations as we have been able to access farm fresh produce.  This has been very beneficial for our stores, for our customers and for the local grower.  Without the work of the Value Chain coordinators, we would’ve never been able to make this important connection.” (Jenny Jute and Craif Oeswein).

Results: From November 2022 when the initial project funds were awarded by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board until December of 2023,, the Value Chain Coordination Team has developed relationships with over 130 farmers in over 50 counties and has facilitated at least $1.6 million in sales for Kentucky farmers. This direct farm gate impact does not include ethe $8.5 million in Kentucky farm impact sales that our team helped to support through our partner distributor, What Chefs Want. The VCC Team works closely with What Chefs Want to help them onboard new Kentucky farmers and help identify potential buyers for those Kentucky farm products across the state. The VCC Team has also cultivated relationships with over sixty additional unique buyers including, but not limited to, distributors, meat processors, food manufacturers, food banks, colleges/universities, hospitals, K-12 schools, restaurants, and retailers in an effort to build a consistent demand for Kentucky grown and raised food products.

Public Value Statement: The Kentucky Value Chain Collaborative is filling a gap for farmers and buyers and is generating substantial farm gate impact for Kentucky producers.