Kentucky’s Homebased Microprocessing Program (HBM) is a unique collaboration with the UK Cooperative Extension Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department for Public Health - Food Safety Branch.  The program enables Kentucky farmers to increase farm profits by allowing the production of certain acidified and low acid canned foods in their home kitchens.  Products can be sold from their farm, a farmers market registered with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, or a KY Farm Bureau Certified Roadside Market.   

Program participants must complete a five-hour training workshop focused on canning principles where they learn to differentiate between low acid and high acid foods and safely can fruits and vegetables using research-based recipes.  Participants also learn general food safety and sanitation principles.  The Powell County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent held an in-person training workshop where two new farmers’ market vendors received their certifications.

Both vendors were past participants of Home Food Preservation workshops led by the Family and Consumers Sciences Agent. As a result of attending those workshops, participants gained enough confidence to take the skills learned and apply them to a home business.