The Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with K-State Research and Extension, is hosting a Local Food Producer Workshop in Manhattan. This event will take place on Friday, January 31st, at Pottorf Hall. It is designed for farmers’ market vendors, managers, and anyone interested in selling food directly to customers.
Farmers’ markets in Kansas do more than just offer fresh produce. They also help boost the local economy. In 2024, over 100 farmers’ markets were registered with the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA).
Sammy Gleason, manager of the KDA’s From the Land of Kansas program, emphasized the importance of these workshops. “We want to support Kansas farmers’ markets and agricultural businesses by providing them with valuable education,” he said. “These sessions will help local businesses stay current on food safety practices and learn new marketing strategies.”
Each workshop will cover several key topics, including:
- Marketing Techniques
- Food Safety Guidelines
- Regulations for Selling Meat, Eggs, and Poultry
- Understanding Sales Tax for Vendors
- Training for Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Additionally, the KDA will provide free scale certification for participants during the workshops.
Registration is now open. For more details and to register, you can visit FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop or check out the K-State Research and Extension website at ksre-learn.com/food-producer-workshops. You can also contact local extension offices for information.
If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Robin Dolby, the marketing coordinator for From the Land of Kansas, at 785-564-6756 or via email at fromthelandofkansas@ks.gov. The workshop is supported by the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.
