Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Reducing food loss through post-harvest improvements and market expansion
Kentucky’s fruit and vegetable operations are expanding rapidly, increasing 46% between 2012
and 2017, and generating a market value of almost $160 million. With high local demand and high
potential grower returns – especially on small acreages – specialty crops are increasingly attractive
and profitable enterprises for Kentucky farm families. Barriers exist that keep growers from
reaching their economic potential, including the critical issue of food product loss and food waste
and the complexities of navigating intermediated market channels. This project focuses on two
primary strategies to minimize food loss: reducing post-harvest product loss through improved
practices and preparing growers for market expansion through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
certification. The Kentucky Horticulture Council, the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky
Vegetable Growers Association, the Kentucky State Horticulture Society, and other stakeholders
will partner to provide direct technical assistance, educational programs, and innovative tools to
help prospective and established specialty crop growers reduce post-production losses and prepare
for new markets.
KHC 2021 LFPP Grant Proposal
Activity 1. Support food entrepreneurs to improve product selection, quality, and reduce
food waste.
Task 1. On-farm face-to-face grower visits and remote support (phone, text, UK HORT, UK
email, alerts) to provide harvest and post-harvest storage recommendations to PPA
current and prospective growers at all scales. Assist local food hubs and
aggregators with optimizing product storage conditions to preserve product
quality.
Task 2. Support entrepreneurs in development of value-added products and UK HORT
preserving the cold chain.
Task 3. Develop tools, techniques, and practices that growers can rapidly adopt KHC, UK
to optimize storage conditions and preserve product quality. Transfer HORT, UK
knowledge that meets the needs of prospective and established produce PPA, CKY
growers and market intermediaries.
Activity 2. Support and promote development of market opportunities for Kentucky
produce growers in indirect producer-to-consumer marketing channels.
Task 1. On-farm face-to-face grower visits and remote support (phone, text, CKY, KHC
email, alerts) to aid individual growers and multi-farm groups in obtaining
Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification to sell produce into institutional
or wholesale marketing channels.
Task 2. Host farm food safety workshops and other educational events to CKY, KHC
increase grower knowledge of food safety practices and increase preparedness
for new markets.
Task 3. Connect GAP-certified growers with potential local and regional buyers CKY, KHC
and on-boarding program.
Activity 3. KHC Administrative Activities.
Task 1. Administer grower cost-share program providing financial support to KHC
make third-party GAPs audits affordable for growers entering indirect markets
and for making changes and upgrades to practices and equipment to improve
food safety.
Task 2. Project Management KHC
Anticipated Roles and Responsibilities
KHC will direct the project and assist partners and collaborators with achieving the outlined
objectives, including connecting growers with buyers, as well as administer the grower cost-share
program.
UK Horticulture will provide direct technical assistance to UK Extension personnel and produce
growers in the project area and Dr. Rachel Rudolph will supervise technical staff providing on-site
services. Assistance will include but is not limited to on-farm farm-to-face visits, remote support,
and educational programs. Furthermore, Dr. Rudolph will assist with the creation and promotion of
production and post-harvest handling guides.
UK Plant Pathology will provide direct technical assistance and educational resources and training
to UK Extension personnel and produce growers and Dr. Nicole Gauthier will supervise technical
staff providing on-site services to reduce post-harvest and storage losses of food products. On-site
assistance, remote support, just-in-time alerts and live and recorded educational programs are
examples of technical assistance activities and topics for educational resource development.
Cultivate Kentucky (CKY) will develop educational resources and provide GAPs training to growers
and UK Extension staff on produce handling and farm food safety plans. Bryan Brady will provide
program support and guidance for Extension staff and growers on produce safety and GAPs
certification programs.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 9/30/21 → 9/29/24 |
Funding
- Kentucky Horticulture Council: $98,748.00
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