News

Winter High Tunnel Survival: Snow, Ice, and Extreme Cold Tips for Growers

Alexis Sheffield

Jan 22, 2026

Production

Winter weather can be hard on high tunnels, but a little preparation (and vigilance) can go a long way toward protecting both your structures and your crops. Here are some tried-and-true tips for managing snow load and keeping plants alive during extreme cold. Managing Snow and Ice on High Tunnels One of the biggest causes of tunnel collapse is plastic sagging between the purlins. Snow itself isn’t usually the issue—it’s what happens when the plastic stretches and creates low spots where snow and ice can collect.

Should you charge a credit card fee?

Brett Wolff

Jan 21, 2026

I was recently out shopping with my wife, and she mentioned that “a lot of stores are charging credit card fees now.” At first, it sounded like a casual comment, but the more I thought about my own experiences over the past few months, the more I realized she might be right. I had noticed extra fees popping up at checkout more often, especially at smaller shops and restaurants.

Archived CCD Presentation: Pick TN

Brett Wolff

Jan 15, 2026

In-Person Training

The materials below are archived and were created before April 24, 2026. They are provided for reference, research, or recordkeeping purposes and may not meet current accessibility standards.

2026 Kentucky Fruit & Vegetable Conference Recap

Savannah L. Columbia

Jan 14, 2026

Blog

This week, the Center for Crop Diversification team attended the 2026 Kentucky Fruit & Vegetable Conference in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This annual conference serves as the premier educational program for fruit, vegetable, and cut flower growers in Kentucky. With over a dozen educational tracks and more than 75 expert speakers, conference attendees had lots of great educational sessions to choose from.

CCD Presentations Available: KY Fruit and Veg 2026

Brett Wolff

Jan 12, 2026

A very happy new year for us! Per the usual we're kicking off this next trip around the sun at the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference.

2023-2025 Farmers Market Price Averages Now Available A new publication to help direct marketers with pricing

Gabriel Cassone

Jan 10, 2026

The 2023-2025 Farmers Market Price Averages Report is now live on the CCD website. In addition to the standard basket of 17 crops typically included in this report, we also had the opportunity to collect additional crop price data.

Let's Talk Calcium

Alexis Sheffield

Jan 5, 2026

Production

As we enter what is typically the coolest and cloudiest time of year, growers using high tunnels or greenhouses may want to pay a little closer attention to signs of nutrient deficiency in their crops—specifically calcium.

Ag Marketing Summit

Nov 24, 2025

This past week 2 of our team members, Gabriel Cassone and Emily Spencer, had the opportunity to attend the National Agricultural Marketing Summit in Indianapolis. The summit is a venue for agricultural business owners, extension professionals, and market managers, to share strategies for strengthening marketing practices and provide insights into the agricultural sector.

Crop Diversification New Team Member Welcoming Gabriel Cassone

Nov 20, 2025

Gabriel Cassone is a University of Kentucky alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and a minor in International Business. He has previously served as a summer fellow with the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK) and worked as an undergraduate researcher in the University of Kentucky Entomology Department. A lifelong Kentuckian, Gabriel spends much of his free time with his beagle, Penny, and enjoys playing soccer and piano.

Archived Seasons of Marketing at Farmers Markets

Kati Bowman & Brett Wolff

Oct 21, 2025

The materials below are archived and were created before April 24, 2026. They are provided for reference, research, or recordkeeping purposes and may not meet current accessibility standards.