The Rockcastle Cooperative Extension Service and The Rockcastle County Farmers Market have a relationship based upon promoting local food systems and supporting local farmers supplying fresh produce to customers.  The farmers market has been steadily growing over the past 3 years, adding more vendors each year and increasing total sales.

The Extension service is dedicated to the vendors of the farmers market by offering all trainings necessary for selling goods at the farmers market.  One training specifically is the Producer Best Practice Training (PBPT), which is designed to teach producers how to safely grow, package and transport foods to avoid contamination.  Proper use of compost and water when growing and proper hygiene when harvesting and packaging are just a few of the topics covered in this training. This specific training is a requirement for All Samples certificate for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Those completing the training receive a diploma and more than 5,000 Kentucky producers have completed this training since 2008.

In the spring 2021, a Farmer’s Market PBPT training was held at the Rockcastle county extension office along with trainings on accepting senior vouchers and WIC vouchers.  This year we trained 18 new farmers market vendors, which is a 33% increase from the last training.  Two years ago, six vendors attended the training and 100% renewed their certification this year, as well. The increase in producers present shows the importance of farmers markets in a small community like Rockcastle county.  With the support of the extension office farmers are providing a safe, fresh product to people that they may not otherwise be able to attain.