News

Are you ready for the Farmers Market? 5 tips to make sure you are prepared before your market opens this year

In this article, Camille and Emily walk through 5 things you need to consider as we gear up for Farmers Market season this year. There are many linked resources in here to set you up for success this year.

Do You Need PBPT for the Upcoming Season? Produce Best Practices Training for safe food handling

The Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT) is a Kentucky-specific training and is currently voluntary. Although, some markets and wholesale buyers may require PBPT as an added layer of confidence to know the growers they work with have been trained in safe food handling procedures.

Agritourism Trends to Pay Attention To in 2025 Lessons from the International Agritourism Conference

Last month, I attended the NAFDMA conference, which is the international agritourism association. I took note throughout the conference on themes that emerged over and over to try to get a better understanding of what the major trends in agritourism are today. Here's a list of 5 things that I learned, in no order of importance.

CSA Week Provides CSA Marketing Resources to Farmers

Kentucky Proud CSA Week and National CSA Week are here! Celebrate CSAs and sign up for a CSA near you February 16-22.

Plant with a Plan! What to Think About Before You Plant

Have you ever thought, “I should really take into consideration some important factors before I start planting.” If not, do we have the resources for you!   The CCD has all sorts of recording trainings, webinars, and publications. Among those are our general webinars where we have those dedicated to What to Think About Before You Plant. We have information dedicated to the market you are considering being involved in. Direct markets or large and commercial, we’ve got those things that you need to think about! 

Using the KDA's 2024-2025 Kentucky Farmers’ Market Manual & Resource Guide

High Tunnel Planting Calendar

Some Ways to Use This Calendar - 1. To understand minimum and optimal temperatures for high tunnel crops. - 2. Learn ideal planting and harvest times for high tunnel crops. - 3. Pick crops based on harvest window and how that supports your ideal market.

Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) in Kentucky

The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) in Kentucky is a collaborative effort between the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Department of Entomology) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), Division of Environmental Services. Together, they provide pesticide applicators with the training and resources necessary to prepare for certification testing and meet the licensing requirements for pesticide application. 

Effective Budgeting Can Unlock Growth in Specialty Crop Markets

The specialty crop market is experiencing a surge in popularity as consumer demand for locally grown, organic, and unique produce continues to rise. Farmers and producers are capitalizing on this opportunity, but one factor separates the success stories from the rest: strategic budget planning.  

Welcome to 2025 with the CCD!

If you haven’t noticed already, things look a little different around here. Our team worked diligently throughout 2024 to build and launch a new website for the CCD, and we’re really excited about it. If you’re new here or you’d like a quick breakdown of all we have to offer, check out the Quick Start Guide we put together.