The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is launching the Kentucky Local Food System Expansion Initiative to expand the work of multiple organizations that have laid a foundation in Kentucky for local food purchasing. Organizations involved in the project include the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Horticulture Council, Feeding Kentucky, Bluegrass Farm to Table, the University of Kentucky, and the Community Farm Alliance.  

“KCARD has helped connect farmers and buyers for years, but this new initiative is going to allow us to expand this work dramatically,” said Aleta Botts, Executive Director of KCARD. 

The Kentucky Local Food System Expansion Initiative will 1) establish a statewide local food coordinator and network to connect producers with buyers, facilitate strong institutional buying relationships, and serve as a key hub for partners; 2) increase local food sales for producers by developing sales connections; and 3) increase likelihood of continued local food business success by developing maps of distribution channels, clusters of local food economic growth, and local value chains and disseminating that information among partners, farmers, and buyers.

Olivia Vogel, a current KCARD employee, has been named to the Coordinator role for this project. Olivia comments, “I’ve considered myself very fortunate to work at KCARD for the past year and a half helping beginning farmers navigate business development. I’m excited to use that foundation and now work to expand the purchasing and consumption of local food because I believe in its benefits for Kentucky farmers and consumers.”

Connecting farmers and buyers has changed dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As many local food sales through institutions, schools, and restaurants were disrupted in the past month, farmers have turned to direct sales to consumers, and consumers have responded with increased demand for fresh products produced locally. If you are a local food farmer and have experienced losing a market for your products during the COVID-19 pandemic, please reach out to Olivia Vogel at ovogel@kcard.info or 859-813-0658 to begin finding alternative markets.

The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) received over $480,000 in grant funds from the USDA Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) to launch the Kentucky Local Food System Expansion Initiative and pilot the program over the next three years. This work is also supported by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.