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.
The first Growing Your Farm and Food Business Workshop in Pulaski County brought farmers and food business owners together for hands-on sessions in planning, funding, and grant writing. There’s still time to take part—join KCARD this fall in Shelby or Graves County to gain new tools, connections, and confidence to grow your business.
Forming an LLC is an important step in protecting your farm or food business—but it’s only the beginning. To truly gain the benefits of limited liability, you need to operate like an LLC in practice. That means keeping finances separate, maintaining records, and following the right business practices. Learn the key differences between having an LLC and running one—and how to make sure your business is protected.
Applying for a grant for your farm or food business can feel overwhelming. From project planning and budgets to telling your story, there’s a lot to manage. Check out our blog for 5 tips to strengthen your application and see how we can guide you through the process.
If you are planning to apply for a federal grant and new to the sam.gov system, listen up! The System for Award Management just started requiring a notarized, signed letter to register as a new entity before they will activate your SAM.gov entity registration.
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.
