Kentucky Agriculture
Commissioner Jonathan Shell
Contact Us
AgNet
  • About the KDA
      • Offices
      • Office of Commissioner
      • Office of Administrative Services
      • Office of Agricultural Marketing
      • Office of Agricultural Policy
      • Office of Communications
      • Office for Consumer & Environmental Protection
      • Offices
      • Office of Legal Services
      • Office of State Veterinarian
      • KDA Executive Staff
      • KDA Internship Program
      • Request an Official Appearance
      • News
      • Kentucky Agricultural News
      • Press Releases
      • News Archive
      • KY AGNEWS Sign Up
      • KDA Grants
      • All KDA Grants
      • All Current KDA Grants And Funding Opportunities
  • Ag Policy
      • Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy
      • Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy
      • Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
      • Administrators
      • Applicants
      • Applicant Reporting
      • County Agricultural Development Councils
      • Kentucky Agricultural Development Board
      • Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC)
      • Application Deadlines
      • Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation Board
      • Lender & Mentor
      • Loan Programs
      • Kentucky Agricultural Policy Publications
      • Annual Report 2019
      • Annual Report 2020
      • Annual Report 2021
      • Annual Report 2022
      • Annual Report 2023
      • Annual Report 2024
  • Animal
      • Animal Health
      • Animal Disposal and Rendering
      • Animal Welfare and Complaints
      • Beekeeping
      • Brands
      • Composting
      • Disease Prevention
      • Animal Health
      • Emergency Management
      • Equine
      • Farmed Cervids
      • Livestock
      • Movement and Identification
      • Online Permitting System
      • Animal Health
      • Pollinator Protection Registration System
      • Poultry
      • State Veterinarian
      • Stockyards and Dealers
      • Stray or Abandoned Horses
      • Animal Marketing Programs
      • Aquaculture
      • Livestock
      • Market News
      • Purebred Breeders Directory
      • Shows and Fairs
  • Online Services
      • Nuisance Weed Spraying
      • Nuisance Weed Spraying Program
      • Ag Businesses Directory
      • Ag Ringtones
      • ARD Inspector Search
      • Free Web Page Builder
      • Hay for Sale
      • Hemp Licensing Portal
        (login required)
      • KDA Calendar of Events
      • Landscape Plant Availability Guide
      • Licensing and Certification Log In Portal
      • Licensing and Certification Registration Portal
      • Nuisance Weed Spraying Program
      • Online Permitting System
      • Pest Control Company Directory
      • Pesticide Complaint Form
      • Pollinator Protection Registration System
      • Product Registration and Renewal System
      • Purebred Breeders Directory
      • Service Agency
      • Stray or Abandoned Horses
      • Weights, Measures & Motor Fuel Complaint Form
  • Pesticides
      • Environmental Services
      • Licensing and Certification Portal
        (login required)
      • Nuisance Weed Spraying Program
      • Pest Control Company Directory
      • Pest Control - Agriculture
      • Pest Control - Structural
      • Environmental Services
      • Pesticide Product Registration
      • Pesticide Complaint Form
      • Pesticide Training and Testing
      • Public Pest and Recycling Assistance
      • Pesticide License Renewal Portal Login
      • Pesticide Registration and Renewal
      • Training and Testing
      • Training and Testing
      • Product Registration
      • Product Registration
  • Plant
      • Plant Marketing
      • Plant Marketing
      • Plant Marketing Programs
      • Farmers Markets
      • Forage/Hay Testing
      • GAP-Good Agriculture Practices
      • Ginseng
      • Plant Marketing Programs
      • Grape and Wine
      • Hemp
      • Hemp Licensing Portal (login required)
      • Horticulture
      • Plant Marketing Programs
      • Landscape Plant Availability Guide
      • Organic
      • Produce Safety Program
      • Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
  • Promotional
      • Marketing Programs
      • Ag Businesses
      • Ag Education
      • Agritourism
      • Appalachia Proud
      • Buy Local
      • CSA - Community Supported Agriculture
      • Marketing Programs
      • Emergency Management
      • Farm License Plate
      • Farm Safety
      • Farm to Fork
      • Farm to School
      • Farmers Markets Directory
      • Farmland Preservation/PACE
      • Forage/Hay Testing
      • Marketing Programs
      • Free Web Page Builder
      • Good Agricultural Practices - GAP
      • Marketing Grants
      • Homegrown By Heroes
      • International Trade
      • Junior Chef
      • KDA Grants
      • Kentucky Proud
      • Kentucky Wine
      • Marketing Programs
      • Livestock Tag
      • Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant
      • Market News
      • Mobile Science Activity Center
      • Promotion and Development
      • Raising Hope
      • Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure
      • Shows and Fairs
      • Woodlands
  • Regulatory
      • Food Programs
      • Farm to School
      • Chefs in Schools
      • Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant
      • National School Lunch Programs
      • Senior Farmers' Market
      • Supplemental Programs
      • Regulation & Inspection
      • Aerial Recreational Devices
      • Amusement Ride Inspections
      • Egg Licensing
      • Grain Licensing and Regulation
      • Grain Licensing Search
      • Licensing and Certification Portal
        (login required)
      • Teen & Tobacco
      • Weights and Measures
      • Weights, Measures & Motor Fuel Complaint Form
      • Environmental Services
      • Pest Control - Agriculture
      • Pest Control - Structural
      • Pesticide Complaint Form
      • Pesticide Product Registration
      • Pesticide Training and Testing
      • Public Pest and Recycling Assistance
      • Other
      • Brands
      • Composting
      • Market News
      • Organic Program
      • Rendering
      • Stockyards and Dealers
  • AGNET
  • Contact Us
2
AUG

Mount Washington Farmers' Market ranks second in Kentucky in national contest

  • By Chris Aldridge

  • Kentucky Agricultural News

MOUNT WASHINGTON, Ky. -- DJ Bowen excitedly pulled out her smartphone and proudly showed a visitor that the Mount Washington Farmers’ Market ranks second in Kentucky (as of July 30) as the most-endorsed “people’s choice” market.

“I keep telling people that we have the best farmers’ market in Kentucky,” said Bowen, who works in community development for the city of Mount Washington, which lies just southeast of Louisville.

Receiving the second-most votes (140) in the state places the Bullitt County market 14th in the Southeast and 38th nationally in American Farmland Trust’s 13th annual America’s Farmers’ Market Celebration. The winner will be awarded $2,500, the runner-up will receive $1,500, and third place will get $1,000. The funds will go toward marketing, communications, and other needs that help expand the market’s reach and impact.

“It’s not about the money,” Bowen said. “I just want to win!”

The competition is on-going. Votes are still being accepted for favorite farmers’ market at https://markets.farmland.org.

This week, Aug. 1-7, is Kentucky Farmers’ Markets Week. To cap off the week on Saturday, Aug. 7, Mount Washington Farmers’ Market is planning several activities to entertain children while their parents shop for fresh produce, baked goods, and raw local honey, jams, and jellies. In addition to the weekly “Story with Lori” at 10 a.m., which includes free snacks for the kids, the market is planning to have a farm tractor to explore, free face painting, and crafts.

Mount Washington Farmers’ Market is in its 11th year. “It started across the street on that little dirt lot,” Bowen said, pointing to the vacant space beside Peoples Bank near downtown.

In August 2016, the construction of City Plaza Pavilion at 320 N. Bardstown Road moved the market under an ornate brick shelter with ceiling fans and restrooms.

The market is open 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays.

“Four years ago, we averaged maybe 100 customers on Wednesdays and 300 on Saturdays,” Bowen said. “Now, we have 300 at least on Wednesdays; and Saturdays, we normally average 900. Before the pandemic, we had 1,300.

“We started a little slow this year at 700-750 on Saturdays,” she added. “But it’s gonna pick up with corn coming in. Corn and tomatoes are our big sellers.”

Shady Lane Farm, which has been a vendor for all 11 years, dominates the market by taking up about a quarter of the sheltered space with its varied selection of fresh produce, baked goods, homemade pickles, jams, and jellies. The Kentucky Proud farm, which operates a popular u-pick pumpkin patch every fall, has been family owned since 1898.

Shady Lane owners Todd and Kelly Smith also offer cheeseburgers and pork burgers – Todd grills while Kelly dresses the burgers to order. Other items on the menu are hot dogs, baked beans, and potato salad.

The farmers’ market is a popular dinner spot for some locals. Bowen greeted one family that enjoys dinner around the same round table every Wednesday evening. For dessert, there are three difficult choices: seven varieties of fruit-filled crepes, including best-seller triple berry, from The Dessert Studio; a selection of fresh made-from-scratch cookies from Louisville-based Lil Bit of Sweets, whose chocolate chip cookies quickly sell out; or gluten-free treats such as dairy-free triple chocolate brownies and a selection of muffins and breads from Kentucky Proud member Heavenly Acres Farm & Sweets.

    Other offerings include:
  • Fresh cut flowers from Kentucky Proud member Fleur de Luna;
  • Fresh vegetables and flowers from Homegrown By Heroes and Kentucky Proud vendor Stamper Family Farm near Cox’s Creek;
  • Organic produce, herbs, and spices from Kentucky Proud member Elliott Brothers Farm near Shepherdsville;
  • Country ham, spicy pickles, salsa, barbecue sauce, and other items from Kentucky Proud member Hillbilly Gourmet in Louisville;
  • Microgreens that you can sample and handmade baskets from Hillstead Farms near Taylorsville; and
  • Kettle corn (Saturdays only) cooked before your eyes by Hwy 44 Kettle.

For more information about the Mount Washington Farmers’ Market, go to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mwfarmersmarket. Or to find a market near you, go www.kyagr.com/marketing/farmers-market.html and click on “Farmers’ Market Directory” under “Additional Links.”

Press Release Sign-up

    In the News

  • 4/11/25 – Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corp. approves more than $2.1 million in loans
  • 3/18/25 – Ag Education Week brings the agriculture experience to the classroom
  • 3/17/25 – Russell County Hospital, Dry Branch Stock Farm partner up on Food is Medicine initiative
  • 3/07/25 – Agriculture Commissioner kicks off Ag Tag season visiting with FFA, 4-H members
  • 3/06/25 – 2025 Beef Expo sales reach more than $700,000
  • View All Press Releases...

    Agriculture Links

  • Kentucky Farm Bureau Newsroom
  • Cromwell Ag Network
  • Morning Ag Report - WKDZ 106.5 FM

KDA Video

Agriculture in Kentucky

Agriculture is more than a part of life, it’s a passion and commitment to provide the fiber, feed, and shelter the world needs.

Equine Industry in Kentucky

Agriculture is more than a part of life, it’s a passion and commitment to provide the fiber, feed, and shelter the world needs.

Kentucky Farmers' Markets

Kentucky Farmers' Markets bring fresh, local produce, meats, eggs, and handmade goods directly to communities. These markets support local farmers and offer a vibrant shopping experience with seasonal products, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities.

Sunshine Class

The Sunshine Class is a unique opportunity for special needs individuals to engage in Kentucky agriculture by showing livestock. To learn more about how to get involved visit kyagr.com/sunshine/

ABOUT KDA AGNET CONTACT US REQUEST AN APPEARANCE
KY Department of Agriculture |Phone: (502) 573-0282 |Fax: (502) 564-2133 |1-800-327-6568 |Disclaimer |Ag links
© Kentucky Agriculture Department. All rights reserved.
Kentucky Proud