Processing for Profit

Homebased microprocessors are farmers who grow and harvest produce to use in their value-added products.  Homebased microprocessors are required to grow a predominant ingredient in the products they make.  Homebased microprocessors are allowed to make higher risk products such as canned tomatoes, pickled fruits and vegetables, salsa, barbecue sauce, pepper or herb jellies, vinegars, low or no sugar jams and jellies, and pressure canned vegetables. To aide farmers in Roadside Market, Farmers Market and individual sales of their produce Hart County Extension has offered the initial Microprocessing Workshop as well as the renewal workshop at the Extension office since 2016. As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic producers were not allowed to come into the office for training. To ensure farmer’s needs were met in Hart County as well as throughout the state Janey Cline, Hart County Family and Consumer Sciences agent worked with University of Kentucky Food Preservationist, Annhall Norris and Sanda Bastin to move the Microprocessing Workshops online.

As a result of the move to an online format 53 producers were trained throughout the state resulting in an increase in sales and safety of products being sold.