value added

Celebrating Dairy Month with Legacy Dairy

Celebrating Dairy Month with Legacy Dairy

June is Dairy Month in Kentucky! To celebrate, we’re spotlighting Legacy Dairy, a fourth-generation family farm operated by the Jones family in Barren County, KY. Legacy Dairy offers whole, non-homogenized milk that comes strictly from cows raised and cared for on the farm, where it’s also bottled and processed. 

Apply for a Value-Added Dairy Business Evaluation by February 28

Apply for a Value-Added Dairy Business Evaluation by February 28

KCARD is partnering with the University of Tennessee Extension’s Center for Profitable Agriculture to provide existing value-added dairy businesses with an in-depth analysis of their operation. This analysis consists of a comprehensive on-site evaluation by experienced and trained business consultants. The application deadline to be considered for the program is February 28th.

Questions to Consider Before Introducing Value-Added Products

Questions to Consider Before Introducing Value-Added Products

In order to diversify and increase profits, many farms are adding value-added products to their lists of offerings. For produce farmers, “value-added” refers to processing their fruits and vegetables into another product of higher value, such as jam, salsa, or pre-cut/ready-to-cook vegetables. While this can help bring extra revenue to the farm, it’s important to consider the extra time and money that will go into launching a new value-added product. If you’re thinking about introducing value-added products, start by considering these questions.

Too Many Options: Choice Overload in Your Business

Too Many Options: Choice Overload in Your Business

Did you know that if you offer your customers too many options that it decreases the chances that they make a purchase? A lot of food businesses we work with want to have 20+ varieties of the value-added food product that they are making. The problem: having too many choices in a food category causes our brain to go a little haywire. In this post, we discuss what you can do to prevent choice overload in your customers.

Hidden Costs of Launching a Value-Added Product

Hidden Costs of Launching a Value-Added Product

Adding value to your farm product can bring more of that food dollar back home to the farm. Many Kentucky farmers transform their raw agricultural commodity into a different product with higher market value (milk to cheese, fruit to jam, etc.) This may seem like an obvious way to increase revenue, but it’s important to understand all of the costs associated with launching a value-added product. Understanding your costs will help you price your product at the right level and ensure that you can make a profit off the finished product.

KCARD Guest Blogger: Kentucky State University

KCARD Guest Blogger: Kentucky State University

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be showcasing partners in our Growing Your Farm and Food Business Webinar series. These partners provide funding opportunities to Kentucky’s agricultural producers and agribusinesses. In this post, we are learning about Kentucky State University and the assistance they provide.

Are You Eligible for the USDA Value Added Producer Grant?

The Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) provides planning funds or working capital to farmers who are adding value to their agricultural products. The program generally requires a business plan and pro forma financials to score well, so starting early is a must. Below is a quick guide to help you determine if VAPG is the right fit for your business. Contact KCARD, at (859) 550-3972 or via email at kcard@kcard.info.

Winter Funding Opportunties

Winter Funding Opportunties

This week we are featuring the Kentucky State University's Small Scale Farm Grant Program, and Community Farm Alliance's Farmers Market Support Program which offers a Kentucky Double Dollars cost share and a farmers market manager cost share. Please check out more information about each program below.