Kentuckians' Consumer Perceptions of Local Dairy and Other Local Food Options

By Tim Woods | Extension Professor and Camille Stevens | Extension Associate
Published on Aug. 29, 2024

In an era where food choices are abundant, there is a growing trend towards supporting local agriculture. One of the most impactful ways to embrace this movement in Kentucky is by purchasing local dairy products, meat, as well as fruits and vegetables.

Farmers Market Purchase Frequency

By Azita Varziri | Postdoctoral Scholar, Brett Wolff | Extension Specialist, and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on May. 24, 2024

Farmers markets are an anchor to a community's local food system and represent a high profile channel for local food system development in most communities. This study investigates various demographic and behavioral aspects that influence purchasing patterns at farmers' markets.

2023 Kentucky Vegetable & Fruit Input Costs: Changes and Trends

By Emily Spencer | Extension Associate and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 30, 2023

Prices for many crop inputs have increased steadily since 2016. This report updates 2023 Kentucky price trends for key vegetable and fruit crop inputs: fuel and fertilizer, labor, plant protection products, and seed.

Kentucky Dairy Product Shoppers: Perceptions of Local Sourcing and the Environment

By Azita Varziri | Postdoctoral Scholar, Camille Stevens | Extension Associate, Shuoli Zhao | Assistant Professor, and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Jun. 29, 2023

A significant survey was completed during the early part of 2023, exploring the values and demand perceptions of Kentucky consumers of dairy products.  This survey of 827 individuals explored a wide range of attitudes and behaviors connected with a range of food sourcing and impact considerations.  Animal agriculture has received considerable at

Consumer Covid Crisis Edges Back – A Little

By Azita Varziri | Postdoctoral Scholar and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Jul. 29, 2022

Covid represented a significant shock in 2020 to the U.S.

National Farm Market Impacts from Covid

By Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Apr. 29, 2021

A Fall 2020 national survey conducted by the Farmers Market Coalition of farmers market managers starts to provide a glimpse into some of the winners and losers in farmers markets across the country.  Farmers markets have been important venues for small vendors and localized food systems, often providing a diversity of kinds of vendors participa

Cantaloupe, Watermelon, and Pumpkin Market Trends for Kentucky

By Savannah Columbia | Extension Associate and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 6, 2021

Cantaloupe, watermelons and pumpkins have been important crops for Kentucky, especially moving through the auctions.  These commodities clicked on all cylinders during 2020 in the context of the pandemic.  Some of the opportunities related to strong short-term prices associated with the strong demand for local products.  Good growing conditions

Produce Auctions Have Seen Higher Prices Amid COVID-19 Challenges

By Brett Wolff | Extension Specialist and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Jul. 28, 2020

Like all agricultural businesses operating in the midst of the challenges posed by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, produce auctions have had to make some adaptations to comply with social distancing and other recommendations and mandates.

PRIMER for Selecting New Enterprises for Your Farm

By Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Aug. 1, 2000

This publication is designed to help producers evaluate new enterprises for their farms or family businesses. It is based on a set of worksheets to help evaluate the Profitability, Resource requirements, Information needs, Marketing decisions, Enthusiasm for, and the Risk associated with a new enterprise.