Publications and Press
Through our research we seek to identify the unique challenges in developing mid-tier, community embedded (e.g. ‘local’) food value chains that support family farmers and meet the needs of institutional dining service providers, and develop strategies to address and overcome them.
Working collaboratively with staff, faculty, students, and community partners, we engage in continuing research and evaluation of our region’s food system with the goal of identifying opportunities and challenges for growing a vibrant food and farm economy.
UK Dining Sourcing Reports
Additional Publications
First Processed Produce in Central KY (5/2016)
The Food Connection served as the research consultant for a collaborative project with Bluegrass Farm to Table and Community Ventures to identify gaps in our produce value chain, and the specific needs for additional processing capacity in the region.
Fayette County Local Food Demand Assessment (11/2015)
Working in partnership with CEDIK and Bluegrass Farm to Table, The Food Connection contributed to this study which examines the current landscape of local food demand in Lexington, Kentucky based on interviews with purchasers, producers, distributors, and processors.
County Food Production and Marketing Profiles (9/2016)
The Food Connection, in partnership with Bluegrass Farm to Table, and CEDIK (Community and Economic Development Initiative for Kentucky, and KCARD (Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development), has developed local food profiles for 23 Central Kentucky counties. These can be accessed via CEDIK.
Press and News for The Food Connection
Civil Eats - The University of Kentucky’s Long Road to Sourcing ‘Local’ Food, February 26, 2019
Lexington Herald Leader - Three cows, five pigs, lots of lettuce. How UK's weekly purchases could change Kentucky farms, November 21, 2018
