Project Overview
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Agronomic: corn, peanuts
- Fruits: melons, apples, apricots, berries (other), cherries, grapes, peaches, pears, plums, quinces, berries (strawberries)
- Nuts: walnuts
- Vegetables: asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, cucurbits, garlic, greens (leafy), onions, parsnips, peppers, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips
- Additional Plants: herbs
- Miscellaneous: mushrooms
Practices
- Education and Training: extension, farmer to farmer, mentoring
- Farm Business Management: marketing management, market study, value added
- Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, partnerships, public participation, employment opportunities, social networks, sustainability measures
Proposal abstract:
One of Kentucky’s long-term goals for sustainable agriculture growth is to assist farmers in adding value to farm products, including fruits and vegetables. Kentucky legislature passed a farmer-driven bill that allows farmers to process value-added products from the home kitchen instead of having to build an expensive certified kitchen. In order to sell low acid and acidified food products, farmers must attend a Home-based Microprocessor Workshop. As a result of this project training and offerings, farmers will produce safe value-added products that increase economic returns, strengthen the community farm-to-table link, and save valuable natural resources. As Kentucky agriculture moves from a commodity driven to a product driven state, it is imperative that Cooperative Extension Agents be offered research-based information to address the complex issues of value-added food product development and marketing.
Project objectives from proposal:
The Value-Added Microprocessor Project has three main objectives: Train Kentucky Cooperative Extension Agents, Health Inspectors, Area Food Manufacturing Inspectors, Department of Agriculture personnel, and Farm Mentors the technical knowledge and skills needed to provide Home-based Microprocessor Workshops to Kentucky farmers; Establish a Better Process Control School at the University of Kentucky Value-Added Processing Incubator; and Establish specialized value-added courses to provide additional agricultural sustainability.