Success StoryFarmer's Market Orientation



Farmer's Market Orientation

Author: Alexis Amorese Sheffield

Planning Unit: Horticulture

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

Plan of Work: Management and Marketing

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

In an effort to improve vendor membership and success rate at the Boyle Co. Farmer’s Market, the Boyle Co. Horticulture Agent worked with the Farmer’s Market Board and Center for Crop Diversification at the University of KY to develop an orientation training for those interested in selling in the 2020 market year.  

Topics included: 

  • Info on market dates. 

  • How to fill out an application and pay dues. 

  • How to get a business license. 

  • Using mobile credit card readers. 

  • Understanding your clientele. 

  • How to accept WIC and SNAP dollars. 

  • What type of certified scales should be used. 

  • Food sampling guidelines. 

  • Food specific requirements for sales. 

  • Understanding market clientele needs/wants. 

  • Good pricing practices. 

Attendees were given a sheet with info on how to find useful material, and bulleted information based on the topics covered to enhance understanding.   

Thirty attendees across nineteen different farms were present.  

  • 4 were past members. 

  •  13 reported that they are very likely to join the market this year. 

  •  6 reported being somewhat likely. 

  •  18 farms said that the training increased the likelihood of joining the market . 

  • 1 said they were indifferent about the training.  






Stories by Alexis Amorese Sheffield


Consumer Horticulture

about 5 years ago by Alexis Amorese Sheffield

The Boyle County Extension Horticulture program continues strong support for consumer horticulture p... Read More


KSD Ag Camp

about 5 years ago by Alexis Amorese Sheffield

Each year, Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD) has a two week “Ag Camp” where deaf and hard of hearin... Read More


Stories by Horticulture


Equiping Agents for Master Gardener Training

about 5 years ago by Richard Durham

The Extension Master Gardener training program generally involves approximately 14 weekly 2.5 hour s... Read More


Kentucky Vegetable and Melon Budgets Update

about 5 years ago by Christy Cassady

Kentucky is home to 30,480 farms of 49 or fewer acres (Census of Agriculture, 2017), and the states ... Read More