Keep it Poppin'

It was quite by accident when Kenny's Cajun Corn was concocted in 1998. Kenny (who only goes by his first name) created batches of Cajun spices to flavor his food after moving to Kentucky. A customer sprinkled some onto his bag of popcorn. "This stuff is GREAT!" recalls Kenny. He knew right then he was on to something big.
Now he and his family business-with wife Jan and kids Corey and Crystal-in Fisherville have created a $1.5 million business packaging Cajun-flavored popcorn into microwave bags. The popcorn used is grown right here in the Ohio River Valley, ensuring fresh, plump kernels, and the spices are mixed and ground the day before blending.
Kenny's Cajun Corn is marketed in 187 stores over 17 states. By direct mail he ships 12 or 24 packs and gift packs to all 50 states and eight other countries. To purchase direct or to find out what stores in your area carry Kenny's Cajun Corn, go to the Web site at www.kennyscajuncorn.com or call toll-free (877) BE-CAJUN (232-2586).

www.kentuckyvirtual.com
Introducing Kentucky-made products to the world
Take the finest Kentucky-made gifts and products, and then introduce them to the world. That is the ambitious goal for the newly launched kentuckyvirtual.com, the brainchild of the Kentucky Wood Products Competitiveness Corporation.
"Many of the state's artisans, craftspeople, furniture makers, farmers, and food producers have not had an opportunity to offer their products in such a way," notes Sam Young, e-commerce director for the site, which went online the end of August. "By offering these products in one online store, the shopper can choose from a variety of world-class products and pay only once. Sure, they can find some of these items in other places, but not together in a way that makes it easy for them."
To discover the vast array of top-quality, Kentucky-made products, simply go to the site-www.kentuckyvirtual.com-and click on a featured category or product, or click to view the complete list of product categories. On every product page you can read the product information, view larger images of the product, and add it to your shopping cart.
And if you want to sell your product online, contact Kentucky Virtual at (888) 822-9663.

One of a Kind Chess Sets
If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind chess set you might contact Wyatt Strong and Allen Cook of Somerset. Cook loves chess and carves, Strong knows about wood, and they came up with the idea about a year ago of making and selling chess sets. Cook, owner of Pennyroyal Dental Lab, carves the pieces out of deerhorn he finds in the woods. So far, he's carved one set on a traditional chess piece theme, and plans others on different themes. Strong, who runs Strong Forest Products, supplies exotic woods for the boards. They haven't put a price on the sets yet, but expect them to sell for a few thousand dollars each-less for just a chess board. If you're interested you can call Strong Forest Products at (606) 274-4122.

www.kyagr.com
Kentucky's rural areas are known for country stores. Now you don't even have to venture out of the house to visit a country store. At the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's (KDA) Web site, you can order all kinds of food products in much the same way you would in person.
The site includes the KDA Country Store, where you can shop for Kentucky food and products. It is divided by type of product such as produce, vegetables, baked goods, etc. There is also the KDA Farm Store where farmers can find Kentucky livestock, hay, wood products, equipment, and services.
"We try to make it accessible and easy and offer as much detailed information about specific commodities as we can," says Sherry Hoffman, principal assistant in the Office for Agricultural Marketing and Product Promotion.
For those interested in marketing a product on the site, Hoffman says the Department of Agriculture can help build a Web site for anyone with an agricultural commodity. You can also link an existing site with the department's site. Call Sherry Hoffman at (502) 564-4696.

www.kycraft.org
If you're looking for the finest crafts from Kentucky, the place to look is Kentucky Craft Marketing Program's Website. Go to www.kycraft.org/trade_retail/juriedlist.html.
The site includes a complete listing of more than 400 juried participants and a description of their products. The jury-composed of experts in various artistic mediums from outside the state-ensures that only the very best products are on the site and that there is diversity in the products.
"The site is a cultural showcase of all of Kentucky's finest," says Beau Haddock, a media communicator with the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program. "You can view a variety of all the different mediums. It's a great site for those inside and outside of Kentucky who want to buy the best crafts but don't know where to find them."