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.
One direct-to-consumer marketing arrangement that has increased in popularity in the past several years is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). While this can be a great model for many farm businesses, it’s important to evaluate the pros and cons to understand if starting a CSA is right for your farm business.
In the final part of the Local Food System Expansion Initiative story map series, we take a closer look at some of the larger local food industries (meat, dairy, and produce) and supporting infrastructure in Kentucky, including where they are clustered and where there may be a lack of farms or infrastructure to serve the local population. While this series has been a snapshot of the full story map, be sure to check out all of the information, including interactive maps with county data, HERE.
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. In the second part of the series, we take a closer look at local food sales in Kentucky, including both direct-to-consumer sales and other market channels like restaurants, retailers, and institutions. Stay tuned for the final part of the series where we’ll look at specific food industries in the state!
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.
In addition to the Census of Agriculture, USDA conducts topical surveys that cover specific sectors in agriculture such as Local Food Marketing Practices. We dove into the 2020 Local Food Marketing Practices survey results that were released in April 2022, and we resurfaced with a trove of information that highlights the current status of local food nationally and within the state.
We have all felt the increase in our bills at the grocery store this year, but what does that mean for farmers? The difference between retail prices of food and farm-level prices includes costs of distribution, processing, marketing, packaging, retailing, and more. Buying directly from farmers and supporting local food suppliers helps bring more of the food dollar back to the farm.
In May 2020, KCARD launched the Kentucky Local Food System Expansion Initiative through support from an USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant. The goal of the Initiative is to increase local food sales for Kentucky producers by developing sales connections with buyers such as retail stores, institutions, restaurants, schools, and distributors. At 24 months into the Initiative, we wanted to provide a quick glimpse at producers who have been assisted thus far.
Launched in 2020, KCARD’s Kentucky Local Food Expansion Initiative connects local farmers to buyers and seeks to grow a strong and diverse buyer-producer network across the state. One aspect of the initiative includes visualizing where local food production and sales are already occurring and where they are not to inform the work.
October is National Farm to School month, and to celebrate, the Kentucky Farm to School Network* is launching a statewide initiative to encourage farm to school activities – The Kentucky Farm to School Challenge!
KCARD’s Local Food Project Coordinator Olivia Vogel talks broken supply chains and the role of Kentucky farms to meet the needs of Kentuckians in this post.
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.
