Markets, Milk, and Lettuce Growing with Gabe Cassone

In this episode of Hort Culture, Brett, Alexis, and Ray  are joined by guest Gabe Cassone, agricultural economist at the University of Kentucky's Center for Crop Diversification (CCD), to dive into the numbers behind growing and selling local produce and dairy. Tune in as we break down everything from digital farmers market price reporting and USDA shipping point data to the surprising price differences between urban and rural markets. We also explore the future of the dairy industry, unique value-added consumer trends (like eye-tracking tech in grocery stores and European-style milk vending machines), and Gabe's own backyard vertical hydroponic lettuce experiment! Gabe CassoneExtension Associate [https://ccd.uky.edu/people/gabe-cassone] Center for Crop Diversification [https://ccd.uky.edu/] Price ReportsRegional Farmers Market & Produce Auction Price Data [https://ccd.uky.edu/pricereports] Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com Check us out on Instagram! [  / hortculturepodcast  ] 00:00 Seasonal Conversations and Chai Terminology 00:52 Gabe's Introduction and Kentucky Weather 01:40 Outdoor Adventures and Plant Challenges 02:49 Nostalgic Drinks and Modern Innovations 04:30 Gabe, would you like to introduce yourself? Tell people you know what you're into, if there's any vintage soft drinks that you remember from your earlier years. 05:50 Digital Market Reporting and Pricing Strategies 16:10 Market Pricing and Consumer Trends 20:05 Dairy Innovations and Consumer Psychology 29:48 Dairy Marketing Campaigns and Industry Challenges 43:05 Innovative Hydroponic Growing Systems 45:20 Closing Thoughts and Listener Engagement