Opportunities for selling Kentucky-grown produce are increasing and finding the best buyer match is important for a profitable relationship. For the last several years, KHC has been partnering with other organizations and agencies to host Grower-Buyer MeetUps across Kentucky. Annually, more than 30 buyers attend this event, representing businesses such as Creation Gardens, Kroger, Walmart, Houchens, AWG, Whole Foods, Good Foods Co-op, and other distributors who reach all levels of grocery outlets as well as restaurants and institutional buyers including local schools.
Grower-Buyer MeetUps bring together buyers and growers and is co-hosted by the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, the Kentucky Society for Horticulture Science, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Center for Ag and Rural Development, the University of Kentucky MarketReady Program and the Kentucky Horticulture Council. Produce buyers include chefs, retail, and distribution representatives together in one location to make it easier for growers to make many contacts at once.
During these events, growers have a chance to meet one-on-one in a “speed date” format to exchange contact information and match up products and needs with key buyers. Face-to-face meetings with experts in food safety, organic production, and marketing are also available.
2023 events are in the planning stage, with tentative dates of Friday, February 24, as a pre-conference event to the Eastern Kentucky Farmers Conference at the Pine Mountain State Park in Pineville and Thursday, November 9 in Louisville.
2022 event resources: Our first 2022 event was Friday, Feb. 25, as a free pre-conference kick-off to the Eastern Kentucky Farmers Conference at the Jenny Wiley State Park in Prestonsburg. The resource slide deck is available here. Our last event in 2022 was Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Daviess Co Extension Office in Owensboro. The resources slide deck is available here.