Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
Hancock County Farmers’ Market Grand Opening

Frankfort, Ky. -The Hancock County Farmers’ Market held their Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting this morning [June 16]. The Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board were on hand to present the Hancock County Fiscal Court a ceremonial check for $13,640 in Hancock County Agricultural Development Funds and $13,640 in State Agricultural Development Funds as part of the 2006 Farmers’ Market Competitive Awards Program.

The Hancock County Fiscal Court used the funds to construct a permanent Farmers' Market facility in Hancock County. The Hancock County Farmers' Market originally operated as an open air market.  The construction of the permanent facility provided local farmers the opportunity for uninterrupted sales during inclement weather.  The new facility is providing a market place or link to the consuming public.  There is a wide variety of products provided including fruits, vegetables, herbs, sorghum, and flowers.

“I am pleased that the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund is being used to provide additional marketing outlets for area farmers,” stated Keith Rogers, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy. “This will give producers the opportunity to provide Kentucky farmers with direct to consumer marketing programs.”

Senator Carroll Gibson said, “A permanent building for our Farmers' Market will enhance Hancock County's ability to showcase and sell our home-grown produce.”

“The Farmer's Market will bring increased efficiency in the marketing of agricultural products and prove to be a valuable asset to our county," said Representative Dwight Butler. 

The 2006 Farmers’ Market Competitive Awards Program was designed for regional and community farmers’ markets across the state. Program funds were divided into the following investment areas: 25% allocated for Regional Farmers’ Markets and 65% allocated for Community Farmers’ Markets which went toward capital expenditures, as well as, 10% allocated for feasibility/business planning for both regional and community markets.

Governor Fletcher and the Kentucky Legislature continue to make great strides toward lessening Kentucky’s dependence on tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50 percent of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.  To date, Kentucky has invested more than $244 million to an array of county, regional and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. The diversification programs represent more than 2,972 projects that have been funded through Agricultural Development Fund, since the inception of the program in January 2001.

For more information on this project contact Pam Bolen at (270) 314-5688.  To learn more about cost-share grant and loan programs available though the Agricultural Development Fund contact the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy at (502) 564-4627. 

###