Resilience is the capacity to learn, cope, adapt, and transform when faced with shocks and stresses. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is a painful example of shock and stress impacting our industry.
Are you reviewing your marketing approach? If you have relied on specific marketing channels to the exclusion of others, you may need to consider different, or a suite of, strategies and channels to get your products to customers. Do you need to expand your consumer purchasing options? See some ideas below:
- Kentucky Market Maker – boost your reach by being listed in this online, interactive tool.
- KHC’s Expanding Consumer Purchasing Options Resource Page
- KCARD’s New Ways to Collaborate Article
We’ve created a list of other resources that may assist you in marketing Kentucky horticulture products.
Direct to Consumer Models
Farmers Markets, On-Farm Markets, Farm Stands, and Agritourism
- Kentucky Farmers Markets
- Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market (CFM) Program
- Farmers Market Coalition – a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening farmers markets across the United States.
- UK CCD’s Farmers Market Resource Page
- UK CCD’s Roadside Farm Markets Resource Page
- UK CCD’s Roadside Stands Resource Page
- KDA’s Agritourism Resource Page
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a mutually supportive and cooperative relationship between producers and consumers. In this model, growers commit to supplying fresh, quality products to consumers (“shareholders”) who have paid in advance.
- Kentucky Farm Share Coalition
- Wilderness Trail Farm Share (Boyle County)
- UK’s CSA Program (Lexington)
- UK CCD’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Resource Page
- KDA’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Resource Page
- CSA Innovation Network
Wholesale Models
- Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) is a voluntary, third-party audit program that may be required by some buyers. KHC has a GAPs resource page dedicated to support Kentucky growers.
- UK’s Market Ready Program is an intensive class to help you prepare to sell into wholesale markets.
- Restaurants
- Institutional Markets
- Produce Auctions
- Co-ops, Food Hubs and Aggregators
- UK CCD’s Wholesale, Institutional, and Multi-farmer Marketing Resource Page