By Chris Aldridge

Kentucky Ag News

FRANKFORT - Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been promoting his national health initiative under the slogan “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA).

Commissioner Shell shared Kentucky’s vision to “Make Kentucky Healthy Again,” highlighting the Food is Medicine Initiative – a collaborative effort between the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) and the Kentucky Hospital Association. This initiative is focused on improving health outcomes by increasing access to fresh, nutritious, locally grown food across the Commonwealth.

The meeting with Kennedy came at the invitation of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who welcomed Commissioner Shell to discuss how Kentucky’s efforts can serve as a model for integrating agriculture and health policy.

“It was a great honor and privilege to have the opportunity to meet with secretaries Rollins and Kennedy,” Commissioner Shell said. “Secretary Kennedy and I had a brief conversation about Food is Medicine and advancing the initiative to benefit farmers and public health in Kentucky and nationwide.”

Commissioner Shell met with Rollins and Kennedy while in Washington, D.C., with KDA’s Kentucky Proud program, which was participating in a national farmers’ market event.

Rollins invited all 50 states to celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week by participating in the first-ever Great American Farmers’ Market in Washington. It is taking place on the National Mall across from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Whitten Building headquarters.

“Of the 50 states, only 26 were able to participate,” said Jay Hall, executive director of KDA’s Office of Agricultural Marketing. “Only three state marketing brands participated, of which Kentucky Proud was one.

“We had several thousand visitors to the Kentucky Proud booth, all of which were given the opportunity to register to win a small basket full of Kentucky Proud items while we educated them about Kentucky agriculture,” Hall added. “We wanted to make sure people understood the impact agriculture has on the economy of our state.

“We had the great fortune of meeting a lot of Kentuckians vacationing in our nation’s capital, all of which expressed their sincere gratitude for Kentucky Proud participating. Congress is on recess, so we invited the staffs of our Kentucky delegation to stop by, and many of them did.”

Kentucky Proud had a 10-foot by 20-foot tent, flanked by tents from two Kentucky Proud vendors. Whisky Ridge Farm from Calloway County sold its small batch jams jellies, and pickled products, while Bluegrass Kettle Masters from Madison County peddled its kettle-cooked popcorn, which was also sold at the Kentucky Derby.

“Both of them said the farmers’ market exceeded their expectations,” Hall said. “They said they were worried about selling out before the end of the week.”

The Great American Farmers’ Market, which runs through Aug. 8, kicked off Sunday night with a concert by country music artists Big & Rich.

“There was a theme for every day,” Hall said. “On MAHA Monday, Secretary Kennedy joined Secretary Rollins in doing a cooking demonstration (using ingredients from the farmers’ market), then toured the market.”

Rollins said the market “is our opportunity to … stand shoulder to shoulder with today’s producers.”

“America was founded by farmers – ordinary citizens who tilled the land, fed their families and neighbors, and built a nation rooted in freedom and self-reliance,” Rollins added. “President Trump has stood firmly behind America’s farmers by cutting taxes and strengthening the farm safety net, and now we’re bringing the bounty of their hard work to showcase in our nation’s capital. Featuring over 50 daily booths from vendors across the country, this market showcases the strength and boundless spirit of American agriculture.”

“It was a great experience for Kentucky Proud, especially since not a lot of other states participated,” Hall said. “My hope is they do it again next year, and we’ll be given more time to plan a bigger show. Given the tremendous success of the vendors’ sales, I would anticipate it’ll be a highly sought-after event and all 50 states will participate next year.”