Expanding Community Based Retail Opportunities for Agricultural Products Through the Woodford County Farmers Market Association

The Woodford County Farmers' Market is a business incubator for small and parttime farmers in a suburban county adjoining a major population area. The community still has a small town flavor with an active downtown and picturesque farm landscapes. The Farmers' Market has expanded over the last few years, looking to foster stronger economic and social ties with the downtown businesses, retail areas and the community, and to strengthen markets for their products with these entities. This two year proposal seeks to tap retail opportunities within the community by: 1) developing retail packages for purchase by merchants for beautification and merchandising promotions; 2) strengthening the technical and marketing skills of participants in the farmers' market association by providing training and strategic linkages that promote farm and value-added products; 3) involve the community and fanners' market patrons in an education awareness program for using local and Kentucky grown farm products; and 4) explore other innovative routes tapping market opportunities for fann products with community-based initiatives.