Kentucky Proud Logo Program Promotes Local Products

Original story by Rachel Bertone, Farm Flavor. Updated 2023 by Jennifer Elwell.

As the farm-to-fork way of thinking becomes increasingly popular, consumers want to know more than ever where their food comes from. For Kentucky farmers and businesses, it’s important to answer those inquiries with more than just a product.

The Kentucky Proud program was created to link producers and consumers while providing information on the hardworking businesses that deliver the state’s highest-quality agriculture products.

Introduced by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in 2002, the Kentucky Proud brand (which was initially launched as Kentucky Fresh) was created as a central platform to raise awareness of the Commonwealth’s ever-expanding agricultural efforts and to promote Kentucky’s farmers, farm families, and farm impact products. In 2008, Kentucky Proud officially became the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s agricultural marketing brand by legislative action, and the rest, as they say, is history!

The Kentucky Proud program is funded through the generosity of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. Directed by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and administered by the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy, the fund is a product of the 1998 Master Tobacco Settlement between cigarette manufacturers and 46 states, including Kentucky.

Kentucky Proud promotes locally grown food, farmers’ markets, farm stands, agritourism sites, and many other products and destinations with roots in Kentucky soil. 


Kentucky Proud products are raised, grown, or processed in Kentucky by Kentuckians. You can serve Kentucky Proud foods or purchase Kentucky Proud products with the confidence that they came from your friends and neighbors just down the road — not from thousands of miles away.

Ouita Michel, owner of the Holly Hill Inn, Wallace Station, and Windy Corner Market restaurants, has been a member of the program since the beginning, and has found it an extremely beneficial networking tool. “The program is great for meeting lots of farmers and sources for ingredients,” says Michel. “It really brings you into the loop of the local agriculture community.”

She also emphasizes how important the brand of Kentucky Proud has been to her businesses. “The department has done an amazing job at developing the Kentucky Proud brand,” she adds. “There is no other brand name that you can put on a menu that competes with Kentucky Proud. It really captures the values of Kentucky, while communicating our commitment to the state and using local products.”

MarketingJennifer ElwellValue-Added