MarketReady Producer Training Program

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MarketReady Producer Training Program

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MarketReady educates & trains KY growers & food producers interested in expanding their business.

The MarketReady Producer Training program addresses the market development risks and relationships small farmers and ranchers must manage as they seek to develop supplier relationships with restaurants, grocery, wholesale and foodservice buyers. Significant opportunity exists to build on the demand for local products in local markets, yet many farmers are hesitant or unprepared to meet the transactional requirements required by these buyers to manage their own food safety, insurance, product quality, and traceability risks. MarketReady addresses these issues and seeks to educate and help our fabulous food suppliers succeed in today's markets and continue to be profitable, in order to keep farming. The training is based around best business practices identified by buyers in these markets that are actively seeking to engage local suppliers. MarketReady will help farm vendors selling dairy, fruits, meats and vegetables design a better business strategy to succeed.

10/16/2026

Are you interested in finding new markets for your farm or food business?

The Northern Kentucky Buyer Tour is a great opportunity for farmers and food producers to meet buyers, ask questions, and find out what businesses want when they buy local products.

Join MarketReady and The Food Connection on October 29 from 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. for visits to the Ag Complex in Campbell County, The Standard Restaurant in Covington, and What Chefs Want in Cincinnati.

The tour is free and includes a local lunch, but spots are limited. Please note that you’ll need to provide your own transportation.

Register today: marketready.uky.edu

10/15/2026

We are two weeks away from our Buyer Tour in Northern Kentucky. Buyer Tours help connect local food buyers with local food producers -- so if you are looking for new markets for your product, join us on October 29th.

Tour stops include:

🍅 The Ag Complex — Butler, KY
Meet with school food service directors interested in local food.

🍽️ The Standard Covington — Covington, KY
Hear from a restaurant interested in purchasing local products.
🛒 What Chefs Want — Cincinnati, OH
Explore a regional distributor connecting chefs with food producers.

Come learn, make connections, and discover new opportunities to get your products into local markets!

RSVP 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-northern-kentucky

10/08/2026

Ready to connect with buyers who are looking to purchase local products? Join us for our Buyer Tour in Northern Kentucky!

We’ll connect producers with school food service directors, a local restaurant, and a regional food distributor while giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how these buyers source local products.

Tour stops include:
🍅 The Ag Complex — Butler, KY
Meet with school food service directors interested in local food.

🍽️ The Standard Covington — Covington, KY
Hear from a restaurant interested in purchasing local products.

🛒 What Chefs Want — Cincinnati, OH
Explore a regional distributor connecting chefs with food producers.

Come learn, make connections, and discover new opportunities to get your products into local markets!
RSVP 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-northern-kentucky

09/28/2026

Earlier this month, Savannah and The Food Connection's Value Chain Coordinators (VCC) took Kentucky producers on a Buyer Tour in Eastern Kentucky.

On the Tour, producers visited Jackson County Independent Schools, Hop's, and Lionheart Local. Each stop was unique, and it was encouraging to see the connections made on the tour that will (hopefully soon) come to fruition. Read more about this event here 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/news/recap-eastern-kentucky-buyer-tour

Our next Buyer Tour takes place in Northern Kentucky on October 29, 2026. RSVP here 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-northern-kentucky

09/22/2026

Ready to connect with buyers who are looking to purchase local products? Join us for our Buyer Tour in Northern Kentucky!

We’ll connect producers with school food service directors, a local restaurant, and a regional food distributor while giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how these buyers source local products.

Tour stops include:

🍅 The Ag Complex — Butler, KY
Meet with school food service directors interested in local food.

🍽️ The Standard Covington — Covington, KY
Hear from a restaurant interested in purchasing local products.

🛒 What Chefs Want — Cincinnati, OH
Explore a regional distributor connecting chefs with food producers.

Come learn, make connections, and discover new opportunities to get your products into local markets!

RSVP 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-northern-kentucky

09/16/2026

🛒 Registration for the Northern Kentucky Buyer Tour is OPEN! 🛒

The Buyer Tours help connect local food producers with local food buyers. This program gives growers and producers a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to sell to a restaurant, grocery/retail store, or school. Attendees can ask questions, talk with buyers, and enjoy a local lunch (provided by the program).

The goal of the tour is for growers and producers to learn about new market opportunities and how buyers work with local food producers to bring local food products into their markets.

This program is free to attend, but registration IS REQUIRED. Register here 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-northern-kentucky

09/10/2026

🛒 We are participating in a Retail Readiness Training in Danville, INDIANA 🛒

Indiana Grown, Purdue Extension, and the MarketReady Producer Training Program invite producers and food entrepreneurs to a full-day, in-person Retail Readiness Training on November 17, 2026, at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. This interactive workshop will help you understand what retailers look for and how to successfully prepare your products for store shelves.

Participants will gain practical guidance on:
⭐ Packaging and labeling
⭐ Pricing and merchandising strategies
⭐ Navigating wholesale, grocery, and specialty buyer relationships
⭐ Strengthening brand presence and boosting sales
⭐ Opportunity for your products to be evaluated and feedback provided by retail buyers

Kentucky producers are welcome to attend, but please note the event's location and that Indiana retailers will be featured.

Details:
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: Hendricks County Fairgrounds
Cost: $30

Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a networking event. Register here 👉 https://in.accessgov.com/isda/Forms/Page/indiana-grown/retail-ready-training-registrations/

09/07/2026

We are hosting a Buyer Tour in Eastern Kentucky THIS WEEK!

This program gives growers and producers a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to sell to a restaurant, grocery/retail store, or school. Attendees can ask questions, talk with buyers, and enjoy a local lunch (provided by the program). This program is free to attend, but registration IS REQUIRED.

Registration closes soon! Register here 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-eastern-kentucky

09/05/2026

Do you want to meet local food buyers? If so, join our Eastern Kentucky Buyer Tour!

This program gives growers and producers a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to sell to a restaurant, grocery/retail store, or school. Attendees can ask questions, talk with buyers, and enjoy a local lunch (provided by the program). During the tour, we will visit three local food buyers in Eastern Kentucky.

This program is free to attend, but registration IS REQUIRED. Register here 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-eastern-kentucky

09/02/2026

We are hosting a Buyer Tour in Eastern Kentucky! This program gives growers and producers a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to sell to a restaurant, grocery/retail store, or school. Attendees can ask questions, talk with buyers, and enjoy a local lunch (provided by the program). This program is free to attend, but registration IS REQUIRED. Register here 👉 https://marketready.uky.edu/events/marketready-food-connection-buyer-tour-eastern-kentucky

Address

407 Charles E. Barnhart Building
Lexington, KY
40546

Telephone

+18592184383

Website

https://marketready.uky.edu/

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