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Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Issues Ten Percent Challenge

Lisa Autry

Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner is asking you to add one more New Year’s resolution to your list.  James Comer wants families to spend at least ten percent of their food dollars this year on locally grown food.

There are several ways to buy Kentucky Proud products.  Jackson Rolett with the Community Farmer’s Market in Bowling Green says the indoor market provides consumers with fresh produce even in the winter.

"Some of the things we can offer are a lot of squash and greens, a lot of root crops, turnips, beets, carrots, potatoes," explains Rolett.  "We also have a lot of farmers who are diversifying into high tunnel production and greenhouse production, so we have some producers here with red tomatoes.

Another way to buy Kentucky Proud is by visiting certain grocery chains, including Kroger, Walmart, and Whole Foods.  Walmart stores sell Udderly Kentucky milk, which is produced by dairy farms in south-central Kentucky and processed by Prairie Farms Dairy in Somerset.

Frozen yogurt retailer Orange Leaf uses Udderly Kentucky milk in its yogurt in 11 of its 15 Kentucky stores.

“If every Kentucky family spent just 10 percent of its food dollars on Kentucky Proud items, that would generate more than $500 million to Kentucky farms and agriculture-related businesses,” Commissioner Comer said. “That would have a tremendous impact on the economy in every corner of the Commonwealth, rural as well as urban. Just as important, Kentuckians would eat more fresh, nutritious food, which is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and reduce their carbon footprint by reducing the miles their food travels.”

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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