With pennies no longer being minted, farmers markets and on-farm vendors may need to adjust how they handle cash transactions. This guide explains what’s changing, what isn’t, and how to prepare customers and vendors for a smooth transition.
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.
If you have a retail spot or retail product at a farmers market, you have some valuable real estate. Every square foot of that space has the potential to earn money and you need to use that space as effectively as you can to maximize your profit. Here are three tips for using every square foot to increase your sales.
You never have to look far for a great gift during the holiday season! This holiday season, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development is showcasing products of producers and agribusinesses on Facebook and Twitter beginning November 26th through December 21st.
Facebook – it’s one of the best free tools you have to promote your market and reach current and new customers. It’s also constantly changing. In 2018, Facebook changed their algorithm used to show posts on users’ news feeds to make it more community oriented. With the new changes, how can you bring awareness to your market while promoting content? Leverage Facebook’s post boosts, ads, and the ability to go live to help you reach audiences that might not be aware of your market and help “advertise” your market to new customers.
Instagram is an online photo and short video-sharing service that has grown in popularity among teens and young adults. This social media platform allows users to share short videos and photos on Instagram and other social media sites.
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.
