Regional Farmers' Market Workshop in Wichita Feb. 8
Friday, Dec. 13, 2019
WICHITA — The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) will host a regional workshop at the Sedgwick County Extension Center 4-H Hall on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. This is one of six regional workshops which are being offered this year to assist farmers’ market vendors and managers. The other workshop locations are Iola, Olathe, Hiawatha, Beloit and Leoti.
Kansas farmers’ markets not only provide a fresh food source, but also stimulate the local economy. In 2019, 57 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.”
The keynotes will feature strategies for using national trends in your business and year-round high tunnel production. Attendees will hear updates from KDA and KSRE about research and market regulartions. KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale certification at the workshops for attendees. Workshop topics will include:
- Weed control, mulching, fruit production
- Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Certified Farmer Training
- Accepting EBT
- Sales tax for farmers’ market vendors
- Year-round high tunnel production
- Food safety at farmers’ markets
The workshop will be held at the 4-H Hall of the Sedgwick County Extension Center, 7001 W. 21st N in Wichita. Onsite registration will open at 8:15 a.m. and the workshop will begin at 8:45 a.m. and conclude by 4:15 p.m.
Registration is now open at a cost of $20 per participant to cover the cost of lunch. Lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register by January 31. Registration for the workshop can be found at www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/events or at local extension offices.
