Maps help us navigate the world, and they not only show us how to get from point A to point B, but, depending on the type of map, they can also help us to see where patterns, clusters, and gaps exist in a spatial environment. As part of KCARD’s state-wide Local Food System Expansion Initiative, a series of interactive maps has been developed to visualize the Kentucky local food system. Stay tuned for parts two and three of the series in the next few weeks. We will present a closer look into local food sales in Kentucky and the various industries that make up the local food system.
KCARD will be hosting a Planning for Farm Diversification workshop on October 22 in Murray, KY to assist agricultural producers who are transitioning out of dark tobacco and diversifying their farming operations with produce or raising livestock for value-added products. The workshops will provide information on business planning, marketing, produce safety practices, and production resources.
A well-hosted class or workshop can be one of the more profitable (and fun!) ways to engage visitors on your farm and offer agritourism opportunities. However, they can be quite labor-intensive and require lots of planning and thoughtfulness. Check out these tips to get you started!
Do you have employees working more than 40 hours a week and making less than $844 per week (equivalent to $43,888 per year)? If so, it’s important to review your payroll and staffing hours for 2024 and 2025 as overtime rules have changed.
KCARD works specifically with farmers markets on a wide range of topics, including where to find funding, how to structure the market, and how to think of the farmers market as a business entity. In this post, Terryn Varney, KCARD Business Development Specialist who specializes in farmers market assistance, answers questions about how and when KCARD can help your farmers market.
Engaging visitors on your farm through agritourism can transform a simple trip into a memorable experience. As more people seek authentic, hands-on activities, farms have a unique opportunity to diversify their income and connect with visitors by showcasing daily operations, offering interactive tours, and hosting fun, educational events.
Since agritourism is such a growing industry, you may also be wondering how to set yourself apart from everyone else. Here are 5 ways to engage visitors on your farm.
KCARD helps clients with a variety of services, including business planning, grant facilitation, recordkeeping, and financial development. In addition to those services, KCARD works with clients on developing marketing plans and social media strategies. Kati Bowman, Marketing and Business Development Specialist, answers a few questions about how KCARD can assist you with your marketing.
“What do I need for a commercial kitchen?” is a question we often hear at KCARD. Typically, the answer is not a simple one as several factors play into what will be needed for a commercial kitchen to be a useful and efficient endeavor. In this post, we’ve included some of the first steps we discuss with those interested in a commercial kitchen and resources to learn more.
While KCARD is able to provide a variety of services to clients, our staff spends a large percentage of time working with clients on business plans. Here are a few questions with one of our Business Development Specialists, Kellie Padgett.
There’s no denying that the world is different than it was before COVID-19. One demonstration of this is the reality that people often don’t carry cash, even when they’re heading shopping or to a farmer’s market. With this in mind, it’s important to consider offering different payment methods (most of which can be contactless). Check out these options for accepting alternative payment methods that don’t require hardware or a full POS system.
The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program is currently accepting applications until April 5th for Infrastructure and Equipment-only projects that expand capacity for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of food products, for specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.
We’ve been asked lots of questions about the program, so we worked with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to develop this list of frequently asked questions.
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is a non-profit organization established to facilitate agricultural and rural businesses in Kentucky. We are supported primarily through grants provided by the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Additional support is provided through our work with partners around the state and through fees charged for select client services.
