Strong marketing can help small farms stand out and connect with the right customers. Learn how the 4 Ps and 3 Cs—and KCARD’s marketing support—can strengthen your brand and boost your sales.
Every family farm has a story—but planning its future can be challenging. KCARD’s new Kentucky AgriLegacy Solutions Program helps farm families start meaningful conversations, set long-term goals, and create a clear transition plan with confidence and care. Learn how this program can guide your family through the next chapter while honoring your farm’s legacy.
As your farm or food business grows, your brand should grow with it. If your logo, labels, or website no longer reflect who you are or what you offer, it may be time for a refresh. KCARD can help you evaluate your current branding, align updates with your business goals, and move forward with a clearer, more confident image.
More Kentucky schools are looking to bring fresh, local foods into their cafeterias—creating new opportunities for farmers to grow their businesses while supporting healthy meals for students. But selling to schools is different from selling at the farmers market. From understanding purchasing processes to meeting food safety requirements, success starts with preparation and strong relationships.
Learn key steps to get started, connect with schools, and grow your farm-to-school sales.
As the growing season winds down, it’s the perfect time to revisit your business plan. KCARD’s latest post shares five quick ways to strengthen your plan before year-end — from updating goals and finances to preparing for upcoming funding opportunities. Learn how KCARD’s free, confidential assistance and Business Plan Development Guide can help you plan for a successful year ahead.
In May 2020, KCARD launched the Kentucky Local Food System Expansion Initiative through support from an USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant. The goal of the Initiative is to increase local food sales for Kentucky producers by developing sales connections with buyers such as retail stores, institutions, restaurants, schools, and distributors. At 24 months into the Initiative, we wanted to provide a quick glimpse at producers who have been assisted thus far.
We get asked all the time how to get “free money” in the form of grants for on-farm projects. The answer is pretty simple: there is no free money. While grants can be a helpful way to fund worthwhile projects on the farm, there is a lot of work that goes into receiving a grant. In this post, we discuss some of the key steps of the grant application process.
It is important to understand the cash flow needs of your business and the potential threat of not having enough cash on hand. One of the most common challenges we see in businesses with whom we work is cash management.
Are you wondering if a point of sale system is a good fit for your business? A POS System allows you to maintain sales history, adjust production or buying decisions as well as analyze sales data to figure out how well items on your shelves are selling. Check out this blog post to learn more!
In the state of Kentucky, fruit and vegetable producers are right in the middle of their busiest time of year. Although most preparations take place later this year, or even early next year, there are steps producers can take now that will make next season that much better.
In this blog post we are highlighting some of the most frequently asked questions about registering for a farm number with the Farm Service Agency Office (FSA).
When KCARD staff meets with new businesses and organizations, one of the most recommended courses of action is to implement regular staff meetings. In this blog post, we are highlighting some of the most frequently asked questions about staff meetings
Over the last year, KCARD has seen an increased interest in starting up new commercial kitchens throughout the Commonwealth. Owning and operating a commercial kitchen has many benefits, but there are a few key considerations before getting started.
Are you curious about incorporating a UPC barcode (Universal Product Code) on your food or farm product? UPC barcodes are commonly used on a variety of products to help track these items as they move through the supply chain. If you are targeting retail stores for sales, incorporating UPC barcodes on product labeling is a must.
We all know that over the course of one long year of COVID-19, our habits have changed. From baking bread to who we break bread with, new norms have been established at a rapid pace. One team of researchers, led by the University of Kentucky, is documenting the innovations and COVID-related shifts in the Local and Regional Food Systems markets. Check out the detailed results from a 5,000-household surveyed in the fall of 2020 here and read some key takeaways and lessons for businesses that we have extracted, below.
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is a non-profit organization established to facilitate agricultural and rural businesses in Kentucky. We are supported primarily through grants provided by the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Additional support is provided through our work with partners around the state and through fees charged for select client services.
