Dr. Cindy Finneseth with the Kentucky Horticulture Council (KHC) answered a few questions about her role and the best ways to stay up to date with the Council.

Q: What is your role within KHC and how long have you been with the organization?

A: I have been the Executive Director of KHC since Spring 2018.

Q: What are you most excited about as this program rolls out?

A: There is so much interest in specialty crops right now! We are seeing lots of opportunities for entrepreneurs who are interested in this segment of agriculture. More and more Kentuckians are getting serious about supporting local businesses and established producers simply cannot meet the demand. Horticulture is so diverse: crops like fruits, nuts, vegetables, cut flowers, bedding plants, and much, much more; marketing channels like farmers markets, CSAs, on farm markets, wholesale, and others; and production technologies using field, high tunnel, and greenhouse systems. And those are just a few examples from a production standpoint. There are many more opportunities within the service or green industry sector.

Q: What role will KHC play within the grant program?

A: Initially, we thought potential growers would be most interested in small-scale vegetable production, primarily because of the high demand for locally grown fruit and veg as well as low barriers to entry for many marketing channels like farmers markets. As we’ve talked to more veterans with a range of interests, we want to be sure we are supporting their enterprise selection and establish a strong foundation for success. So, we focus on helping participants narrow down options, think about markets, and explore a good fit for their unique situation. We will connect them with other organizations and agencies so they are prepared to take advantage of all the resources available to them.

Q: Are there other programs KHC has that veterans can participate in?

A: In addition to the many educational programs we host throughout the year, we have a few programs I think are of particular interest to veterans. One is our Ag Water Testing Program, which helps growers ensure compliance with food safety regulations. We provide on-site sampling of ground and surface water sources for production and post-harvest use along with transportation to the laboratory for testing and interpretation of results after analysis. Another is our Small Fruits Initiative, which helps beginning and established growers with production and marketing of small fruit crops like blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. And, the last program I would like to highlight is our GAP audit support. For growers interested in wholesale markets, we provide assistance in preparing for third party audits, ensuring farms have a food safety plan and SOPs, for example, and also cost-sharing on the cost of the audit to reduce the financial burden especially for growers who are new to these markets.

Q: How can we stay up-to-date with new initiatives and programs from KHC?

A: Information about our programs is posted to our website www.kyhortcouncil.org as well as links to the member organizations that comprise the Council. We also have an active presence on several social media platforms: Facebook (@KYHortCouncil); Instagram (@KYHorticulture); and Twitter (@KYHorticulture) and lots of resources on our YouTube channel.

Are you interested in serving as a mentor or have an interest in participating in the program as a veteran? Please let us know by reaching out to Kellie Padgett at kpadgett@kcard.info or (270) 883-0052. You can also sign up for our Kentucky AgVets newsletter at https://www.kcard.info/kentucky-agvets.