October is Farm to School Month in Kentucky and the state agriculture department is hoping to expand the number of schools using locally produced foods.
Seventy-seven school districts already have programs in place to buy local foods. Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles says local chefs play an important role too.
"These chefs help train food preparers to go buy food from farmers' markets or farmers," Quarles told WKU Public Radio. "They learn how to properly store it and manage it , and also, it makes their recipes a little more enjoyable."
A grant program allows the agriculture department to contract with nine chefs and each one is assigned to a region of the state. The goal is to bring fresh, healthy foods to school cafeterias while opening up new markets for farmers.Meanwhile, Houchens-owned grocery stores in Kentucky are expanding the amount of locally grown foods available to customers. In an announcement last week at the Price Less IGA in Bowling Green, Quarles said the expansion would make it easier for shoppers to find Kentucky Proud products. Kiosks will be set up in stores that will tell customers which items are locally-produced.
"Kentuckians want to know where their food comes from, and more than likely, they're going to choose a Kentucky Proud product over an unknown product," Quarles stated.
The expansion is launching at eight locations in Bowling Green, Glasgow, Owensboro, and Louisville. Eventually, 42 Houchens-owned grocery stores will participate in the initiative.
