CCD-MP-17: Grower Cooperatives (Co-ops)

Matthew Ernst, Tim Woods | Apr. 25, 2019 (Minor Revision)

ooperatives have historically been utilized to market wholesale quantities of produce in Kentucky. In the early 2000s, as many as four grower co-ops in Kentucky were actively marketing tomatoes, melons, sweet corn, cabbage, bell peppers, pumpkins and other crops to wholesale buyers. By 2006, however, produce marketing by grower co-ops had largely disappeared from Kentucky's produce industry, with only one co-op still operating as growers found other ways to market produce. The involvement of co-ops in marketing produce from Kentucky has since been limited. Cooperatives remain a potential form of business organization for specialty crop growers located in a similar geographic area. Producers interested in exploring the cooperative business structure can investigate resources available from the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD), which is recognized by USDA Rural Development as a cooperative development center.

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PR-755: 2017 Nursery and Landscape Research Report

Win Dunwell, Bill Fountain, Bob Geneve, Dewayne Ingram, Dan Potter, Raul Villanueva, Paul Vincelli, Nicole Ward Gauthier, Tim Woods | Jan. 18, 2019 (New)

The UK Nursery and Landscape Program coordinates the efforts of faculty, staff, and students in several departments within the College of Agriculture tor the benefit of the Kentucky nursery and landscape industry.

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CCD-MP-9: Marketing Organic Produce

Matthew Ernst, Tim Woods | Oct. 26, 2018 (Minor Revision)

This fact sheet summarizes concerns for Kentucky produce growers that are interested in beginning or expanding the marketing of organic produce. It is intended only as a starting point; further information will be found through various university and government resources and by consulting with experienced growers of organic produce.

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CCD-FS-2: What to Think About Before You Plant: Marketing Considerations for Kentucky Specialty Crop Growers

Matthew Ernst, Tim Woods | May. 3, 2018 (Minor Revision)

This publication poses questions that can benefit farmers who are considering planting a new crop. The publication is divided into the following six sections, with the majority of the content focused in the first two: 1) Market options by size and scale of production, 2) Conducting basic market research, 3) Certifications, 4) Insurance and risk management, 5) Management and labor needs, and 6) Resources needed beyond the field or garden.

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CCD-MP-4: Roadside Farm Markets

Matthew Ernst, Tim Woods | Feb. 23, 2018 (Minor Revision)

A roadside farm market is sometimes distinguished from a roadside stand by location and hours. The term "roadside farm market" can refer to those markets located in permanent facilities at the farm or food manufacturing location; they are typically open most of the year. Roadside stand, by contrast, is a more general term referring to those markets that may be located off the farm and are seasonal in operation.

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CCD-MP-20: Marketing Fresh Produce to Food Retailers (Grocery Stores)

Matthew Ernst, Tim Woods | Feb. 1, 2018 (Minor Revision)

The food retail industry saw a renaissance of interest in local and regional sourcing of fresh fruits and vegetables during the 2000s. This interest came within an industry characterized by heavy investment in fewer and larger centralized distribution centers. Although the distribution center model remains prominent within the food retail industry, some retailers have created flexibility within their distribution models to answer consumer demand for local produce. Large retailers are also finding transportation and distribution cost savings by sourcing fresh produce items from new or expanding producers. Smaller chains and local grocers remain potential markets for fresh produce growers expanding to wholesale volumes. Producers of value-added produce products may also find local groceries a possible market for their product.

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CCD-MP-21: Marketing Fresh Produce to Restaurants

Matthew Ernst, Tim Woods | Jan. 25, 2018 (Minor Revision)

Sourcing and serving fresh produce from local farms remains a trend in the U.S. foodservice industry. The practice of sourcing locally grown fresh produce, first featured by niche and high-end restaurants, moved into mainstream foodservice distribution channels in the early 2000s. A focus on local food appears to be persisting into the 2020s. The National Restaurant Association's 2018 Culinary Forecast, based on surveys of nearly 700 chefs, identified hyper-local sourcing as the top restaurant concept trend, with local produce also among the Top 10 concept trends.

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ID-149: 2017 Kentucky Blackberry Cost and Return Estimates

Matthew Ernst, John Strang, Tim Woods, Shawn Wright | Oct. 11, 2017 (Minor Revision)

Potential producers should realize that while thornless semi-erect varieties produce superior economic returns, thorny and thornless erect varieties may hold some marketing advantages that can command superior prices and result in better returns than those estimated using these standard assumptions.

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CCD-FS-6: Three-Year Average Prices and Quantities at Kentucky Produce Auctions: 2014-2016

Martin Bechu, Alex Butler, Brett Wolff, Tim Woods | Aug. 15, 2017 (New)

This report compares average volumes and prices for 18 crops from two major Kentucky produce auctions for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons.

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SR-111: Economic Analysis of the University of Kentucky Community Supported Agriculture Organic Vegetable Production System

Ric Bessin, Carl Dillon, Tiffany Thompson, Mark Williams, Tim Woods | Jul. 12, 2017 (New)

Farms marketing through a vegetable CSA are complex businesses facing many operational and economic challenges. To be economically viable, CSA farms must achieve the appropriate match of crops, equipment, and labor with farm size and number of CSA members. A diverse array of vegetable crops are typically grown with unique requirements for crop production, pest management, harvest, and post-harvest handling. An extensive suite of skills, tools, and equipment are required to produce these crops efficiently, and mechanization becomes critical as the number of acres in production increases.