Fort Scott Biz

KState Extension: Regional Farmers’ Market Workshop Scheduled for Chanute

Submitted by Krista Harding

The interest in purchasing locally grown food is strong. Many consumers are looking to buy farm-fresh items that have been picked at the peak of ripeness, in most cases that very day! Have you ever thought about trying your hand at selling a product at a local farmers’ market? If so, you will want to plan to attend the regional farmers’ market workshop planned for our area.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture, K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are hosting a farmers’ market workshop set for February 10, in Chanute at the Mid-West Fertilizer Agronomy Center – 3030 S. Santa Fe.

The farmers’ markets are a great avenue for growers to market their products. The market allows growers to have face-to-face interaction with consumers. However, there are legal, safety and financial considerations that growers need to understand before choosing to sell at a farmers’ market. The regional workshop topics will cover topics that growers need to know about before selling.

Highlighted workshop topics include:

 Vendor Marketing and Communications

 Growing in High Tunnels 101

 Regulations on Selling Meat, Eggs and Poultry

 Sales Tax for Vendors

KDA’s Division of Weights and Measures will also offer free scale certification at the workshop for attendees.

Registration for the workshop is now open and is $20 per participant. Registration includes lunch; however, lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register by February 1. Registration forms can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMWorkshop or at any of the Southwind Extension District office locations in Erie, Fort Scott and Iola.

Onsite registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshops will begin at 9 p.m. and conclude by 3 p.m.

In addition to this workshop, local growers are encouraged to attend the 2018 From the Land of Kansas Annual Meeting and Farmers’ Market Conference on March 1 and 2, in Manhattan. Registration is open at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMConference and will close February 19.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at kharding@ksu.edu or 620-244-3826.

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