The Kansas Department of Agriculture, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will host a regional workshop in Girard on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers. This is the third of four regional workshops which are being hosted by the KDA this year.
Kansas farmers’ markets not only provide a fresh food source, but also stimulate the local economy. In 2016, 75 farmers’ markets were registered with KDA’s Central Registration of Farmers’ Markets.
“Selling food directly to consumers through farmers’ markets provides growers a chance to tell their farm’s story, but there are also legal, safety and financial parameters that farmers need to understand before choosing this marketing tool,” said Londa Nwadike, consumer food safety specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.
Workshop topics will include:
- Keynote speaker on Successful Farmers’ Market Vending
- Double Up Food Bucks SNAP matching program
- Sales tax for farmers’ market vendors
- Pricing to ensure a profit
- Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Certified Farmer Training
- Cover cropping and other soil health strategies
- Farm tour of Misty Morning Farms — high tunnel produce growing
KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale certification at the workshop for attendees.
The workshop will be held at Greenbush Education Service Center (Dave DeMoss Education Building), 947 W. 47 Highway, in Girard. Onsite registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m.
Registration for this workshop is now open and is $20 per participant, which includes lunch. Lunch cannot be guaranteed for those registering after February 2.
Registration is available online at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMConference or at your local extension office. Please return the completed form and payment to: KSU Research and Extension, 410 Peter Pan Road, Suite B, Independence, KS 67301.
KDA is committed to providing an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. These workshops will provide support and assistance to help make Kansas businesses more successful.
For more information, please contact Gayle Price, KSU Research and Extension Southeast, at (620) 820-6123 or [email protected].
Photo credit: NatalieMaynor
