Tag: For Market Operators

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Summer Meals for Farms and Farmers Markets

CFA Admin

In 2025, 11.3 million USDA summer meals were served in Kentucky, with Kentucky meal sponsors receiving $48 million in federal reimbursements. Summer meals are a great opportunity for farms and farmers markets to connect with families in your community. Whether your purpose is selling food products to be served in meals, or to increase education about farming, or to connect with families to market your products directly, participating in summer meals programming could help your farm or market achieve some goals.

As the lead organization in the Kentucky Farm to School Network, CFA is promoting participation in Kentucky Farm to Summer Meals Celebration Week June 21-27, a joint event between CFA, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Department of Education and Feeding Kentucky. During this week, summer meal sponsors are encouraged to serve locally grown farm foods in meals and to offer ag education and gardening activities. 


Farmers and market leaders can learn more at the Kentucky Farm to School Network’s website: https://www.kyf2snetwork.com/farm-to-summer-meals.There is a toolkit for farms and farmers markets available to help with plans. Farms and markets can register for the Celebration Week by filling out this form.

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Farm to Summer Meals

CFA Admin

Two peas in a pod – Summer is peak produce season AND summer meals have experienced huge growth in Kentucky. Let’s put them together. Under the umbrella of Community Farm Alliance, the partners of the Kentucky Farm to School Network are planning several initiatives related to farm to summer meals.

A Celebration Week

First, Farm to Summer Meals Celebration Week is coming back for its second year, June 21 to 27. During that week, meal sponsors and sites are challenged to plan special activities to Sprout, Nourish and Understand for SUN meals. Sprout represents gardening activities. Nourish represents serving Kentucky grown farm foods. Understand represents ag education activities. SUN meals is the USDA’s name for summer meals. *New this year* We’ve developed a recognition for participating sponsors and sites. “Lettuce Squash Hunger” recognition will earned by SUN meal sponsors and sites that complete 2 activities: The first required activity is serving a Kentucky farm food (Nourish). The other activity can be either a gardening activity (Sprout) or an ag education activity (Understand).

First Day Fresh

Part of the reason for the growth in meals served is USDA’s allowance for multiple days’ meals to be picked up in one distribution (or home delivery) in qualified locations. In many cases, families are picking up 7 days’ worth of breakfasts and lunches at once for each student. This model is very convenient for families, but leans on processed foods to last for many days. To incorporate Kentucky’s summer bounty into multiple meal distributions, the sweet spot is those meals that will be eaten first. The network is promoting a “First Day Fresh” practice of including Kentucky farm fresh foods in at least the first day’s meals when several days’ meals are distributed at once.

Toolkits

Network partners have developed two toolkits for farm to summer meals. One is for meal sponsors and sites. The other is for farms and farmers markets. By connecting with summer meal programs, farms and farmers markets have an opportunity to reach many families in their community, as well as passing on essential agricultural education to the next generation. Learn more about how to participate on the network website.https://www.kyf2snetwork.com/

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Grow Your Sales with SNAP and SNAP Kentucky Double Dollars

CFA Admin

Accepting SNAP and Kentucky Double Dollars (KDD) at your farm stand or farmers market is a powerful way to grow your customer base and increase your sales. With Kentucky Double Dollars, SNAP customers can double their spending power by up to $20 per day—meaning more dollars flowing directly into your business.

Why offer SNAP and SNAP KDD?

  • Earn More Income: Every Kentucky Double Dollars redemption translates into real revenue from your products
  • Attract New Customers: Position your farm or market as a reliable source of affordable, healthy food
  • Support Your Community: Help families access fresh, locally grown produce while strengthening Kentucky’s food system

If you’re ready to get started but aren’t sure how, we’ve got you covered.

Join the SNAP Cohort

The SNAP Cohort is a free webinar series for Kentucky farm stands and farmers markets interested in accepting SNAP. In this first session, you’ll learn:

  • How to apply for a SNAP permit
  • What to expect during the application process
  • What equipment you’ll need, including free point-of-sale options

This is the first of three sessions in a yearlong cohort, where you’ll also receive hands-on technical assistance and connect with peers working toward the same goals.

📅 First Session: April 20 at 6 PM ET
👉 Register here: https://forms.monday.com/forms/e08b6c0de5fb58548b61af9eabe65626?r=use1

Take the next step toward growing your market while making a meaningful impact in your community.

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Gathering Farmers Market Leaders

CFA Admin

The Farmers Market Support Program hosted our annual Farmers Market Gathering on February 13. The Fayette County Extension Office was vibrant with energy as more than 70 farmers market leaders from across the state gathered for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.  

The day featured insightful presentations from UK Cooperative Extension Service agents, who shared updates, resources, and strategies to support thriving markets. Chelsey Brock from Feeding Kentucky shared opportunities for collaboration to increase food access across communities. Margie Stelzer, CFA’s Kentucky Double Dollars Administrator, presented on the impact and expansion of the Kentucky Double Dollars program, emphasizing how incentive programs boost both farmer revenue and healthy food access statewide.

After the morning sessions, participants enjoyed a delicious meal provided by Alfalfa’s, which offered a fresh, locally inspired spread.

Attendees then moved into breakout sessions tailored to practical, real-world market needs. A sharing circle on community partnerships encouraged open dialogue about building strong local relationships with health departments, tourism, nonprofits, state parks, local businesses, and more. Growers and managers explored tools and techniques for extending the market season during an engaging workshop led by Grow Appalachia, focusing on season extension strategies that help farmers markets increase profitability and consistency.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) guided participants through the business side of farmers markets: covering governance, financial sustainability, vendor management, and long-term planning.

Beyond the formal sessions, the gathering fostered meaningful peer-to-peer exchange. Market leaders shared successes, challenges, and creative solutions, leaving with renewed energy and actionable ideas to implement in their own communities. One participant shared that “we always enjoy the gathering, but this was the best one yet!” 

Thank you to every participant and partner for making the gathering a huge success! We can’t wait to see y’all next year!