Kentucky Ag News

 

2017 Certified Roadside Farm Market enrollment period open

 

Kentucky Farm Bureau

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The season for roadside farm markets is far from over, but Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) wants to help market owners get next year’s efforts off to a great start – enrollment for the 2017 Certified Roadside Farm Market program is now open.

Established in July 1996, the KFB Certified Roadside Farm Market program began as an initiative to help farmers market their fruits and vegetables directly from roadside markets to consumers across the Commonwealth. Since then, the membership has expanded to include farm enterprises like greenhouses, landscape nurseries, Christmas tree farms, vineyards/wineries and meat/cheese farm markets. The KFB Roadside Farm Market program celebrated its twenty-first year in 2016.

Markets certified through this program are identified by a sign with the cornucopia logo and listed in the KFB Certified Roadside Farm Market Directory. The program also provides collective advertising, promotional items, education tour opportunities, and other marketing benefits with the intent to increase the net farm income of member markets.

Early enrollment discounts are available for the 2017 KFB Certified Roadside Market program. Returning markets that renew their membership by November 21 receive the discounted rate of $275. Renewal rates increase to $350 for markets that wait to enroll November 22 through December 31.

Roadside markets that are first- and second-year members to KFB’s Certified Roadside Market program can join for just $250 during the early enrollment session, which ends November 21. First- and second-year market members who enroll November 22 through December 31 can join for $325.

To apply for membership, visit kyfb.com/rfmenrollment. For questions about enrollment and the benefits of participating in the KFB Certified Roadside Farm Market program, please contact Fran McCall, Commodity Specialist and Roadside Farm Market Coordinator, at (502) 495-5000, extension 7238, or by email at Fran.McCall@kyfb.com.