Supplement To “farm Flavor”
Supplement to “Farm Flavor”
A 10,000-square-foot indoor market, designed to promote the products of Kentucky Proud members along with other Kentucky-grown and -made items, is expected to open in Florence in mid- to late May.
The new Friendly Market of northern Kentucky will include a Kentucky Proud General Store, plus a meat market with Kentucky-grown beef, pork, and poultry products and Kentucky-made sausages and cheeses, and feature an inside smoker to smoke bacon and other pork products on-site. A liquor store will shelve and sell Kentucky small-farm wines, Kentucky bourbons, and Kentucky microbrewery beers.
Uncle Buck’s Produce will sell Kentucky-grown produce along with produce such as citrus, bananas, and more that cannot be grown in Kentucky but which will augment the stock of Kentucky produce.
“We believe we have something unique, which will provide high visibility to Kentucky agricultural products of all kinds,” says Jack Berberich, project developer.
In the planning stages for more than three years, the idea for a market showcase for Kentucky’s agricultural and locally grown and made products took root in the wake of the termination of the tobacco quota program.
“Tobacco had been the primary financial foundation for Kentucky farm families until it was eliminated about 10 years ago,” explains Berberich. “I wanted to see how the tobacco fund was being used to help farmers transition into other areas of agriculture in order to remain in the agriculture business.”
Berberich initially looked at small-farm wineries and vineyards, talking with Dennis Walter of StoneBrook Winery and Dan Bryan of Bryan Vineyards. At the time, the idea was to establish a venue that would feature small-farm wines throughout the state and develop a strong marketing plan in conjunction with the farm wineries.
“When I began talking with farmers and those in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, we began to develop a plan to create an opportunity for all farmers,” he says. “Thus the idea for the Friendly Market.”
Groundbreaking took place in November 2012.
In addition to the meat and produce markets and the Kentucky Proud General Store, Chaney’s Ice Cream, made by the Chaney Dairy Farm family in Bowling Green, will have a prominent presence. Rounding out the merchants will be an artisanal bread shop, Brocatto’s Italian Market, Herbs and Spices, and the Flying Olive, purveyors of fine olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
Also located in the market is Taste of Belgium, a daytime diner owned by chef Jean-François Flechet, who specializes in Belgian waffles and crepes made with locally sourced ingredients.
In a separate area in the market, local chefs will offer weekend cooking lessons with an emphasis on preparing Kentucky agricultural products.
Outside the Friendly Market will be a farmers’ market comprised of 30 covered spaces in a pole building where local farmers and producers can offer their products for sale. The farmers’ market will operate from May through December. Hours are 1:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
The inside market will be open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
To read the Kentucky Living May 2013 feature that goes along with this supplement, go to Farm Flavor.
