KAN staff report

The Kentucky Farmers’ Market Association will hold its inaugural meeting Jan. 7 at the Holiday Inn North in Lexington on Newtown Pike.

A reception at 6 p.m. EST will precede the meeting. Interested persons may drop by and speak to members about the association at the reception. Janet Eaton, farmers’ market specialist for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, said the newly-formed association will review proposed bylaw changes and prefiled legislation affecting farmers’ markets that is going before the 2007 General Assembly.

“Coming together on the evening prior to the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference and Tradeshow is a good fit,” Eaton said. “Many farmers’ market participants attend the popular conference each year, making the meeting convenient.”

The association was formed following regional summits sponsored by KDA early in 2006. Since that time KDA has supported the growth of the organization with technical assistance and a $1,000 organization grant.

“A lot of the meeting is to decide the course of the organization over the coming year,” Eaton said. “The meeting is the opportunity for members to become involved in issues that are of concern to themselves and other Kentucky farmers.”

For more information on the Kentucky Farmers’ Market Association meeting, contact Eaton by phone at (502) 564-4983 or by e-mail at janet.eaton@ky.gov, or go to www.kyagr.com and click on Farmers’ Markets on the pull-down menu.