MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Agriculture, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will host six regional workshops in February 2019 to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers.
Kansas farmers’ markets not only provide a fresh food source but also stimulate the local economy. In 2018, 95 farmers’ markets were registered with KDA’s Central Registration of Farmers’ Markets.
“Farmers’ markets provide growers a wonderful opportunity to have real interaction with consumers, and a chance to tell their farm’s story,” said Londa Nwadike, consumer food safety specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri. “It’s also important for farmers to understand certain legal, safety and financial parameters before choosing to sell at a farmers’ market.”
Workshop topics will vary slightly by location. Highlighted topics include:
- Vendor Marketing and Communications
- Pest Control and Soil Health
- Regulations on Selling Meat, Eggs, and Poultry
- Sales Tax for Vendors
KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale certification at the workshops for attendees.
Dates and locations for the Farmers’ Market events are as follows:
February 1 — Olathe: KSU Olathe
February 2 — Parsons: Southeast Research and Extension Center
February 8 — Dodge City: Ford County Fair Building
February 9 — Wichita: Sedgwick County Extension Office
February 15 — Manhattan: Pottorf Hall
February 22 — Hays: K-State Agricultural Research Center
Registration for the February workshops is now open and is $20 per participant. Registration includes lunch; however, lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register prior to the respective workshop date. Registration forms can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop or at local extension offices.
Onsite registration for the workshops will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshops will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 3 p.m. The Wichita workshop will begin onsite registration at 8:15 a.m. and the workshop begins at 8:45 a.m., concluding at 4:30 p.m.