UPDATE: UK's Market Ready Program will be at the McCracken County Extension Office on March 24th from 9-3.  For details of the meeting, take a look at that date on our calendar.

YaY UK for being responsive to Purchase farmers!

Below is my snarky editorial written January 14th-

The University of Kentucky Extension Service is planning four MarketReady training sessions during the month of February for farmers who want to sell their products in the retail market.

In a press release from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ag Commissioner Richie Farmer said “Many Kentucky farmers are hesitant or unprepared to take advantage of the opportunity to sell local products in local markets,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “This training is intended to show them how to manage their own food safety, insurance, product quality and traceability risks.”

The training costs $25, runs from 9- 3 local time in four locations. The first will be held Friday, Feb. 11 at the Campbell County Extension office in Highland Heights, Ky.; Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the Pulaski County Extension office in Somerset, Ky.; Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Elk Creek Winery in Owenton, Ky.; and Thursday, Feb. 24 at the Warren County Extension office in Bowling Green, Ky . (see map)

Farmers' markets are popular all over the state and the Kentucky Proud program in the Department of Agriculture supports efforts to sell fresh farm products directly to the public.

Bowling Green is the farthest western site and Somerset is the farthest eastern location. Bowling Green may be "western Kentucky" to those in the eastern and central parts of the state, but there is a whole lot of geography west of Warren County that is still in Kentucky-just as there is a whole lot of Kentucky east of Somerset. 

Counties all over western Kentucky have vibrant farmers' markets. Calloway and McCracken have especially popular programs. It's too bad those counties and others in the Purchase won't get to host MarketReady training sessions.