This is the second year of the Northern Kentucky Specialty Crop Production and Marketing Conference. Topics for the December 2019 conference were selected from recommendations of previous attendees and a planning committee. Holding the conference at the Boone County Enrichment Center enabled us to present two tracts of five presentations per tract. One tract featured specialty crops; mushrooms, blueberries, blackberries, etc. The other tract featured traditional crops and high tunnel production.

Previous attendees wanted information on crops and production practices that would enable them to diversify their market mix and have more to sell early and late in the growing season when commodities are scarce.

Evaluations from those attending indicated we accomplished exactly what we intended. 

35 said they were going to add new crops to their growing mix.

26 people intend to add early and late crops to lengthen their sales window.

6 people plan to join a new Farmers Market

7 people will initiate a CSA or will sell to one or more of the restaurants represented at the conference.

One common comment from those in attendance was that all presenters identified produce trends in their talks. Participants plan to use this information in deciding what to plant and when. 

Tricia Houston, owner of Farm Market Cafe was one of our restaurant presenters. Tricia made several contacts and is sourcing local produce from 4 growers she met at the conference.

UK Horticulture Specialists Rachel Rudolph and Chris Smigell taught 2 presentation apiece.