© 2024 WUKY
background_fid.jpg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

All-Kentucky Proud Store Opens In Lexington

Josh James
/
WUKY
Entrance to the Kentucky Proud Store at the Boone County Creamery on Palumbo Drive

Many local stores, from Mom-and-Pop operations to major retailers and franchise locations, carry Kentucky-made foods, but one of the state’s few exclusive Kentucky Proud stores is celebrating its grand opening in Lexington Monday.

Credit Josh James / WUKY
/
WUKY
Shelves of Kentucky Proud products line the walls at the Boone County Creamery

Stroll down the hallway from the front desk at the Boone County Creamery Kentucky Proud Store and you’ll pass by shelves lined with jams and jellies, soaps and salsa, and on your right you might catch a glimpse of employees assembling the store’s most-touted products.

"Our workers - we call them cheese minions - they stay pretty busy cutting samples and cutting piece of cheese for the grocery stores," cheese master Ed Puterbaugh notes as he surveys the room full of shiny metal surfaces and giant vats.

Well acquainted with local Farmer’s Market regulars, Puterbaugh says it was his idea to create the Palumbo Drive store that focuses solely on items sporting the Kentucky Proud seal.

"I am a champion for small business and small Kentucky Proud producers. We wanted to share that with the people that come through here and do what we could to help the small producers," he says.

Certified Kentucky Proud items include farm products grown, raised, or processed in the state. The program has grown to encompass thousands of retailers, farmers, processers, restaurants, and other members.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
Related Content