Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
Katelyn’s Honey Awarded $293,850

Frankfort, Ky.-Keith Rogers, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board were on hand today to present Katelyn’s Honey, Inc. with a ceremonial check for $293,850 to purchase state of the art equipment that processes fruits and vegetables into premium value-added products. Katelyn’s Honey, Inc. received $5,000 in Grant County funds and $288,850 in state funds as a forgivable loan for this project.

Katelyn's Honey purchases surplus and salvaged vegetables, fruits, and herbs from Kentucky farmers and processes marketable value-added products to sell to retailers and food service operators.  This project generates new farm revenues to replace lost tobacco farming income. New packaging and labeling systems allow Katelyn's Honey, Inc. to offer private labels for small to mid-sized companies, increase sales, and marketing opportunities.  New products and packaging creates value for both the retailer and consumer ultimately benefiting the Kentucky farmer. 

"We are continuing to strive for agricultural diversification across the Commonwealth, “said Keith Rogers. “The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has helped Kentucky accomplish this goal by funding projects such as this, that create value-added products and help multiple farmers in the region.”

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 nearly 3,000 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 Millard Long with Katelyn’s Honey, Inc. at (859) 586-5283. 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. 

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