The Kansas Department of Agriculture, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will host a regional workshop in Great Bend on Feb. 2. This is one of five regional workshops being hosted by KDA and KSRE this year to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers.
Kansas farmers’ markets not only provide a fresh food source, but also stimulate the local economy. In 2017, 85 farmers’ markets were registered with KDA’s Central Registration of Farmers’ Markets.
“Farmers’ markets provide growers a chance to tell their farm’s story, with face-to-face interaction with consumers, but there are also legal, safety and financial parameters that farmers need to understand before choosing to sell at a farmers’ market,” said Londa Nwadike, consumer food safety specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.
Workshop topics will include the following:
Marketing and Pricing Tips;
Growing in High Tunnels 101;
Regulations on Selling Meat, Eggs and Poultry Direct to Consumer;
SNAP Program and Sales Tax for Vendors;
Vendor Marketing and Communications;
Food Safety Inspection Requirements; and
Kansas Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Certified Farmer Training.
KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale testing and certification at the workshop for attendees.
The workshop will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 2701 24th Street in Great Bend. Onsite registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m.
Registration for this workshop is now open and is $20 per participant. Registration includes lunch; however, lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register by Jan. 22.
Registration forms can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMWorkshop or at local extension offices.
For more information, please contact Lexi Wright at the Kansas Department of Agriculture, at 785-564-6755 or [email protected].