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.
When KCARD staff meets with new businesses and organizations, one of the most recommended courses of action is to implement regular staff meetings. In this blog post, we are highlighting some of the most frequently asked questions about staff meetings
Over the last year, KCARD has seen an increased interest in starting up new commercial kitchens throughout the Commonwealth. Owning and operating a commercial kitchen has many benefits, but there are a few key considerations before getting started.
Are you curious about incorporating a UPC barcode (Universal Product Code) on your food or farm product? UPC barcodes are commonly used on a variety of products to help track these items as they move through the supply chain. If you are targeting retail stores for sales, incorporating UPC barcodes on product labeling is a must.
We all know that over the course of one long year of COVID-19, our habits have changed. From baking bread to who we break bread with, new norms have been established at a rapid pace. One team of researchers, led by the University of Kentucky, is documenting the innovations and COVID-related shifts in the Local and Regional Food Systems markets. Check out the detailed results from a 5,000-household surveyed in the fall of 2020 here and read some key takeaways and lessons for businesses that we have extracted, below.
One of the most important tools you can use for your business is good market research. Being able to do your own market research gives you a unique perspective into your business and its potential. Knowing your market is invaluable when planning for your current and future business plans.
Have you ever thought about marketing your farm’s local food to restaurants but just don’t know where to start? We have put together a few tips for you to make the sales pitch as seamless and successful as possible.
At KCARD, when we are working through financials for clients, we are often asked “Do I need to file a Schedule F?” or we often ask businesses if they have ever filed a Schedule F.
Last year about this time, we all began learning a lot more about COVID 19. We also started seeing grocery shelves with less meat on them than we normally expected to see. Meat processors in the state who were already at least six to eight weeks booked if you tried to schedule animals to be processed started getting a lot more calls as more people were seeking local meat and more farmers saw an opportunity to expand direct meat sales to consumers.
With the Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit starting tomorrow (you can still register here!), we wanted to spotlight KCARD’s Kentucky Local Food System Expansion Initiative. Launched in 2020, the initiative works collaboratively with partners to assist Kentucky local food farmers and buyers in sales and sourcing of local food. Below are some common questions about the Initiative.
One question we receive a lot at KCARD is how to begin looking at a business’s financial statements and learning from them so that you can make good decisions going forward. Right now, this topic is especially timely since we know a lot of folks who are calendar-year tax filers are putting together their documents to take to their tax preparer.
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.
