Spring brings many things including a new market season

With the onset of spring, many people begin to look for their favorite farm market and the local products that can be found at each. And consumers will have lots of choices as the Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) Certified Farm Markets (CFM) program has grown to include 141 different markets scattered throughout the state.

KFB President Mark Haney said the network of CFMs adds a much-needed addition to the food needs of consumers, as the program continues to grow.

"We have more CFMs now than ever before enabling customers more choices, in more places across our state," he said. "As a market owner, I see firsthand how valuable this program is in helping to market our products to consumers not only close to home but to a worldwide market through the internet and social media."

Recently, the annual CFM Educational Meeting was held at the state office. This year’s event brought the biggest crowd of market owners yet to the annual educational meeting to listen, learn and network with other CFM participants. Many of the attendees have been in the program since it began in 1994 and others are just beginning their involvement in the program.  

KFB Commodity Specialist and CFM Coordinator Fran McCall said the program continues to be popular with market owners and consumers, alike.

"We have seen such growth in our program not only from the participant side but from consumers looking to buy more local food," she said. "The diversity we have in our markets continues to fulfill the needs of their customers making this program one of the most unique in the country."

Calvin and Catherine Shake of Jefferson County are first-time members of the market program. They have a vegetable operation on their farm where they also sell value-added products such as pickles, jellies, apple butter, apple pie jam, and preserves, to name a few.

"Everything we sell comes from the farm except for some hanging baskets which we feature early in the season," Catherine Shake said. “We decided it was more efficient to just grow everything ourselves and we have developed a unique way of selling our produce.”

The Shakes, who have been raising and selling produce for five years, have a product stand at the entrance to the farm and everything is sold by way of an honor system.

“We’ve always sold this way and it has worked out well,” Calvin Shake said. “We take the time to visit with our customers and answer any questions they might have, and we see many regular customers coming back year after year."

The Shakes, who have been involved in the Jefferson County Farm Bureau for many years, say they are excited to be involved in the CFM program to grow their already successful business.

“In joining the CFM program, I think that will bring more people to our farm to buy vegetables,” said Calvin Shake. “It shows that Farm Bureau is backing us, and that we are established enough to be a certified market.”

Kori and Micah Thomas own and operate Peachtree Farm and Greenhouse in Allen County. This year marks the second they have been CFM members. Kori Thomas said the present-day operation represents a multi-generational family farm.

“We're raising the fifth generation here on the farm, and my dad operated it with tobacco and cattle my whole life,” she said. “When he retired from it basically, it just so happened that we moved back to this town and built a house on the farm and started raising cattle, as well. We still have the cattle and we're trying to keep the farm going, keeping its legacy here.”

Their farming operation offers fresh, locally grown peaches, multiple greenhouses offering vegetable transplants and flowers, replacement commercial heifers, and a fall themed agri-tourism farm experience along with U-pick and already picked pumpkins and mums.

 Kori Thomas said one of the biggest advantages to the CFM program for their farm has been the networking.

“During the recent educational meeting I had an opportunity to talk with others about their operations,” she said. “I think it's good to be able to have those meetings and events to teach us more things so that we can keep learning.”