Kentucky Proud network is a giant step forward

 

 

Commissioner Richie Farmer

 

The state now has invested more than $300 million of tobacco settlement money into agricultural projects as we enter the 10th year of this one-of-a-kind program. These investments have helped many Kentucky farmers diversify their operations and make the transition from tobacco into other products, enabling them to stay on the farm.

 

One of the most successful investments has been the Kentucky Proud farm marketing program. Kentucky Proud generated $250 million in retail sales of Kentucky farm products through member retailers in the past two years. A University of Kentucky study published in November 2008 found that every $1 invested in Kentucky Proud returned up to $4.70 in new farm income.

 

Kentucky Proud achieved a significant milestone at the end of last year when three Kentucky family-run businesses – Critchfield Meats of Lexington, Brown Foodservice of Louisa and Southern Foods of Bowling Green – formed a network to distribute Kentucky Proud products throughout the Commonwealth. The network is distributing source-verified Kentucky Proud beef finished on a nutritional diet developed by Alltech of Nicholasville and processed by PM Beef of Windom, Minn.

 

We expect Kentucky Proud pork and poultry to show up in meat cases all over the state in the near future. We are hopeful this network will distribute many other Kentucky Proud products in the weeks and months to come. This program has the potential to eliminate the most significant challenge to the growth of Kentucky Proud – the ability to get products to the farthest reaches of the Commonwealth. That means more sales for Kentucky producers and businesses, and that means more income for Kentucky farmers, more jobs for Kentucky workers, and better, fresher food products for Kentucky consumers.

 

Kentucky’s leaders have maintained their commitment to the Agricultural Development Fund in spite of severe budget cutbacks. But we can’t stop now. It’s important that the General Assembly again dedicate half of Kentucky’s tobacco settlement funds to agricultural projects so we can continue the job of positioning Kentucky agriculture for a prosperous future.