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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CCD-CP-131: Eggplant

Matthew Ernst, Cheryl Kaiser | Jan. 22, 2018 (Reviewed)

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a heat-loving member of the Solanaceous family. While it is generally grown as an annual in North America, eggplant is actually an herbaceous perennial. Long a popular vegetable in Asian, Middle Eastern, Greek and Italian cuisine, the eggplant is thought to have been introduced to America by Thomas Jefferson.

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CCD-MP-11: MarketReady Producer Training Program

Matthew Ernst, Miranda Hileman | Dec. 15, 2017 (Minor Revision)

The MarketReady Producer Training Program instructs producers in the key business functions that small farmers and ranchers must manage as they seek to develop supplier relationships with restaurants, grocers, wholesalers, and foodservice buyers, including schools. While significant opportunity exists to build on the demand for
local products in local markets, many farmers are hesitant or unprepared to meet the transactional requirements expected by these buyers to manage their own food safety, insurance, product quality, and traceability risks. MarketReady addresses these issues. After training, producers will be prepared for business transactions when selling a
variety of products including dairy, fruits, meats and vegetables.

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CCD-BG-10: 2017 Vegetable and Melon Budgets (Large-scale)

Matthew Ernst | Nov. 20, 2017 (New)

These commercial vegetable and melon budgets compare and analyze profitability between crops using assumptions developed during the 2017 season. These budgets should not be considered as production recommendations or profitability projections. Production practices vary widely between farms and regions. Producers may request details for each budget from the Center for Crop Diversification. Budget details will allow greater comparison of budget assumptions with a user's actual field situation. All values may be changed within each budget worksheet.

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CCD-BG-11: 2017 Vegetable and Melon Budgets (Small-scale)

Matthew Ernst | Nov. 20, 2017 (New)

These commercial vegetable and melon budgets compare and analyze profitability between crops using assumptions developed during the 2017 season. These budgets should not be considered as production recommendations or profitability projections. Production practices vary widely between farms and regions. Producers may request details for each budget from the Center for Crop Diversification. Budget details will
allow greater comparison of budget assumptions with a user's actual field situation. All values may be changed within each budget worksheet. Most of the worksheets assume all production is sold at the same price, but there is also a blank line for a second quantity/cost for users to add if desired, such as already done in sweet potatoes.

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CCD-FS-7: Risk Management in Specialty Crops: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

Matthew Ernst, Cheryl Kaiser | Oct. 24, 2017 (New)

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is a financial assistance program provided through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). The program provides producers of crops not eligible for crop insurance with some level of risk management when natural disasters cause crop low yields, crop losses or prevent crop planting.

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CCD-CP-118: Snap Beans

Matthew Ernst, Cheryl Kaiser | Oct. 24, 2017 (Minor Revision)

The snap bean or green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a warm-season crop harvested for its immature seed pods. Prior to the development of the stringless bean in the 1890s, snap beans were referred to as "string beans" because of the fiber or "string" running along the pod seam. While stringless beans are more common today, many consumers still prefer the flavor of the stringed types.

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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-CP-116: Romaine Lettuce

Matthew Ernst, Cheryl Kaiser | Oct. 10, 2017 (Minor Revision)

Romaine (Lactuca sativa), also known as cos, is a lettuce that produces elongated heads. Romaine is considered more nutritious and has more volume than iceberg. Because it is slower to bolt than other head lettuces, romaine can be grown commercially in Kentucky.