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.
Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is a cooperative development center, providing education, support, and advisory services to groups interested in forming cooperatives and to cooperatives who have already formed. KCARD has served these needs in Kentucky since 2001 providing assistance to over 50 cooperatives and helping with the establishment of 27 cooperatives.
So, what is a cooperative? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a cooperative is “an enterprise or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services.” Put simply a cooperative is a business owned and controlled by the people that it services.
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.
