This summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Madison County to address the question: What is the demand for and feasibility of establishing a shared-use commercial kitchen in Madison County?
Value-added processing refers to the alteration of raw agricultural goods into processed products (e.g., tomatoes into jarred tomato sauce) to diversify food producers’ for-sale income and provide a stream of revenue during the farming off-season. Communities rely on these products too; their extended shelf life, added nutrients, reduced risk of spoilage, and accessibility make them important items to keep stocked for moments of need and uncertainty. Making value-added products locally contributes to Madison County’s ability to sustain itself, fill this need, and support local producers as they expand their businesses.
This project’s research question was developed in response to the 2024 closure of Nelson Farms, Madison County’s only value-added processing facility. To understand the gap in needs left by Nelson Farms’ closure, I conducted phone interviews with 11 producers about their value-added processing needs and status. These conversations identified that while a shared-use commercial kitchen is needed by some producers, due to limited time and staff available to devote to processing, other producers would benefit from a local co-packing facility. I also connected with emerging shared-use commercial kitchen spaces in the county to determine the spaces that were most feasible based on the needs of producers I spoke with. My final deliverable was a report that summarized these conversations, highlighted the strengths and niches of each facility, and outlined the legal processes involved in operating a shared-use commercial kitchen.
CCE’s mission encompasses almost all aspects of community sustainability. It emphasizes bridging the gap between experiential and academic knowledge by recognizing how they inform and improve each other, the more they are intertwined. While I primarily worked with the Agriculture Economic Development team, I also spent time getting involved with the CCE Teaching Garden, 4-H Youth Programming, and events such as Open Farm Day and Adventures at the Fairgrounds. Thank you to the CCE Madison team for welcoming me into your space and teaching me new things every day. — Julia Card ’27