Unlock the Secrets of Local Flavor: Join Our Farmers’ Market and Food Producer Workshops!

Kansas Department of Agriculture

The Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with K-State Research and Extension (KSRE), is hosting six Local Food Producer Workshops across the state. These sessions are designed for farmers’ market vendors, managers, and anyone interested in selling food products directly to customers.

Kansas farmers’ markets play a crucial role in providing fresh food and boosting the local economy. In 2024, over 100 farmers’ markets were registered with the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA).

“We aim to educate Kansas agricultural businesses so they can thrive,” said Sammy Gleason, KDA’s From the Land of Kansas manager. “These workshops will equip local businesses with vital food safety knowledge and marketing strategies for reaching direct consumers.”

Each workshop will cover a variety of topics tailored to the location, including:

• Marketing strategies
• Food safety guidelines
• Rules for selling meat, eggs, and poultry
• Sales tax information for vendors
• Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program training

The weights and measures program will also provide free scale certification to attendees at the workshops.

Here are the dates and locations for the workshops:

• January 31: Manhattan at Pottorf Hall, Riley County Fairgrounds
• February 1: Wichita at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center
• February 7: Olathe at K-State Olathe
• February 21: Chanute at Neosho County Community College
• February 28: Hays at K-State Agricultural Research Center
• March 28: Garden City at the Southwest Research–Extension Center

Registration for each workshop costs $25 per participant and is now open. You can find more details and register at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop or ksre-learn.com/food-producer-workshops or through local extension offices.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Robin Dolby, KDA’s From the Land of Kansas marketing coordinator, at 785-564-6756 or [email protected].

KDA is dedicated to fostering growth in the agricultural sector and the overall Kansas economy. The Local Food Producer Workshops are part of a broader initiative to support farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses in their success.

Source link