Farmers markets across the state are doing much more than just providing a source of fresh local food. The vendors offering their products, as well as consumers taking advantage of those items are also stimulating the local economy. There are now 130 active farmers markets in Kansas compared to the 26 in operation in 1987.
To help current and prospective market vendors, a regional Farmers Market Vendor Workshop will be held on Friday, January 29 at the KSU Ag Research Center Auditorium, 1232 240th Avenue in Hays. The workshop is co-sponsored by K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s From the Land of Kansas trademark program.
The program will be held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Speakers, breakout sessions and panelists will provide helpful information for those who want to capitalize on the popularity of farmers markets in Kansas. Topics include Kansas sales tax requirements, food safety inspection requirements, value-added food product safety, accepting Kansas benefit cards and planning your production planting for market season. Vendor panels will share tips on setting prices, attracting repeat customers, merchandising techniques, social media marketing and other best practices. Ellis County vendors Tatum Kimzey and Shaun Musil will be included among the program speakers.
“Selling items directly to consumers through farmers markets provides producers a chance to develop their own business, but it has its own set of legal, safety and financial issues that vendors need to understand before choosing this marketing tool,” said Londa Nwadike, a consumer food safety specialist with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.
While vendors selling food items such as fresh vegetables, baked goods and homemade jams and jellies have special guidelines they need to understand, vendors selling other items (crafts, jewelry, wood-working, etc) will also find useful information at the workshop.
The early-bird registration deadline is January 19. A fee of $20 per person will cover the costs of the conference, including lunch. A $5 charge will be added for those who register after January 19 or at the door. Lunch cannot be guaranteed for walk-in registrations.
Registration information for the January 29 workshop in Hays, an agenda for the day and an online registration form can be found at www.fromthelandofkansas.com/FMConference.
The Hays workshop is one of four regional farmers market vendor training conferences offered across the state in January, February and March. For dates and registration information for other locations, see www.fromthelandofkansas.com/FMConference.
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.