U-Pick operations are a critical direct marketing approach for many farms in Kentucky and provide customers with a unique hands-on connection to fresh produce grown locally.

Key points to keep in mind: 

• Communicate with your staff about

  • sanitary guidelines;

  • emergency information and procedures;

  • management of customer counts for social distancing; and

  • about the necessary steps to take before you can open for the season and each business day.

• Communicate with your customers about

  • any new precautions you are taking;

  • proper sanitation and personal hygiene;

  • first come, first serve for product availability; and

  • if you will be offering pre-picked product for sale.

• Encourage online pre-orders for pre-picked berries, have outside checkout lines, or offer specific time slots that people can register for when they can come to the farm.

• Keep in mind social distancing and sanitation recommendations with ALL interactions.  To stay up-to-date on current Covid-19 recommendations for Kentucky, visit https://govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19.

• Check out the U-Pick resources at https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/farm-resilience/best-management-practices-for-u-pick-farms-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/. The Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market Program has more resources on their website for you to use to guide you in opening your U-Pick operation now, you can also contact Fran McCall, Commodity Specialist, at Fran.McCall@kyfb.com.   

This is not going to be a normal season. As always, give KCARD a call if you want to discuss practices your market can take during this time. You can reach us at 859-550-3972 or via email at kcard@kcard.info.