Success StoryMarket Days
Market Days
Author: Jason Vaughn
Planning Unit: Powell County CES
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Plan of Work: Nutrition and Food Systems
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
Seniors and Farmers in Powell County value the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The program provides residents who meet economic threshold and age guidelines, market vouchers worth 48 dollars. Seniors use the vouchers as cash at the Powell County Farmers’ Market and the farmers return the vouchers to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for reimbursement. The program is a win-win providing seniors access to locally produced nutrition while supporting our local farmers and economy.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture encouraged markets to develop ways to increase redemption rates and the number of vouchers a county will receive. The Powell County Ag and Natural Resource Agent in his role as the Market Manager for the Powell County Farmers’ Market Initiated Market Days at the Extension Office. Market vendors set up in the parking lot while Seniors were applying for their vouchers. Seniors walked out of the extension office with 48 dollars to spend and options to spend that money. Several recipients commented, “It is hard to get to town, so I would prefer to spend it all and can or freeze what I can’t eat now.”
Market Days have had a dramatic effect on the money spent at the Powell County Farmers’ Market. In 2021, 60 percent of the vouchers were spent, by 2022 that number was 75 percent. The 2024 market redemption rate was 84 percent. Market Days has been successful in increasing seniors' access to fresh fruits and vegetables and increasing net farm income.
Stories by Jason Vaughn
2024 Central Kentucky Hay Contest
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication a... Read More
Market Days
Seniors and Farmers in Powell County value the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. The program ... Read More
Stories by Powell County CES
In the Face of Disaster
Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and often with littl... Read More
Date Night Cooking
According to the United States Census Bureau there are 4,629 households in Powell County, KY with th... Read More
Stories by Local Food Systems
Growing Connections
Due to the recognition of the benefits of local food production there has been an increase in people... Read More
Local produce growers shine at local festival
Downtown Princeton was bustling with activities on Saturday September 7 during the annual Black Patc... Read More
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment