Farmers’ markets benefit producers, consumers, and communities. The Farmers’ Market Coalition explains that farmers’ markets preserve America’s rural livelihoods and farmland, stimulate local economies, increase access to fresh and nutritious foods, support healthy communities, and promote sustainability. During the COVID pandemic, with the disappearance of essential products from store shelves, local food sources were and are more important than ever. Eating local food means eating seasonally and fresh homegrown produce is more flavorful. Local foods also have more nutrients, support our local economies, benefit the environment, promote a safer food supply chain, and build connections between growers and consumers. 

To encourage South Central Kentuckians to consume more local commodities and to support area roadside and farmers’ markets the FCS agent created the SoKY Farmers' Market Guide (2021). The project was initially conceived as a resource publication for an area mailout Homemaker lesson but to have a more substantial impact and reach more individuals the guide book was shared with a greater audience via digital publication and delivery through channels across the region. In Barren County copies of the resource were made available at the Extension Service, the Housing Authority, YMCA, Barren County/Glasgow Chamber/Tourism, Cave City Tourism, and the library among other places. 1000+ paper copy magazines were distributed in Barren and County and several individuals accessed the digital copy online. 

Readers were introduced to the concept of eating local, MyPlate, Plate It Up Kentucky Proud recipes, strategies for shopping smart at local markets, produce availability information, and a Kentucky Proud market directory for the SoKY area. The publication also included details on using benefits like SNAP, WIC, and senior vouchers at the market. As a result, guidebook readers reported increased awareness of markets in the area and planned to visit them more frequently. 

See the guidebook here: https://issuu.com/ukybc/docs/copy_of_soky_farmers__market_guide.onemoretime