Farmers’ markets and direct-to-consumer opportunities are growing across the state.
Farmers’ markets and direct-to-consumer sales continue to be an important source of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and other value added agricultural products from small towns to large metropolitan areas. In 2021, 89 farmers' markets were registered with the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Central Registration of Farmers' Markets.
The 2022 Farmers' Market/Direct-to-Consumer Workshops were held virtually January 31 - February 4, 2022.
Dates and topics for each Lunch and Learn online session were:
Monday, January 31, 2022, noon to 1 p.m.: Kansas Value Added Food Lab, Food Safety for Value-Added Food Products
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, noon to 1 p.m.: Sales Tax, Food Packaging, and How to Care for your Certified Scales
Wednesday, February 2, 2022, noon to 1 p.m.: Meat and Poultry, Kansas Value Added Meats Lab
Thursday, February 3, 2022, noon to 1 p.m.: Accepting EBT/SNAP & Double Up Food Bucks
The half-day virtual workshop on Friday, February 4, 2022, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. covered topics such as How to Market your Market and Booth, How to Identify Common Legal Risks, Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, Vegetable Production, From the Land of Kansas program, and resources available from KSRE. Keynote speaker Brian Coppom, Colorado Department of Agriculture, discussed Best Practices for Business Success when it comes to farmers’ markets.
KDA’s weights and measures program will offer free scale certification with a paid registration to an online workshop.
Below are the recordings and resources shared during the 2022 sessions.
Lunch & Learn Session Resources
- Food Safety - Kansas Department of Agriculture
- Kansas Value Added Foods Lab - K-State Research & Extension
- Virtual Tour of the Kansas Value Added Foods Lab
Presentations:
- Sales Tax - Kansas Department of Revenue
- Food Packaging and How to Care for your Certified Scales - Kansas Department of Agriculture
Presentation:
- Meat and Poultry Regulations - Kansas Department of Agriculture
- Kansas Value Added Meats Lab - K-State Research & Extension
Friday's Main Workshop Session Resources
- Marketing for Markets and Vendors - Lexi Wright, Back Pocket Social
- Best Practices for Business Success - Brian Coppom, Colorado Dept of Ag
- Farmers Market Legal Toolkit - Emily Spiegel, Center for Agriculture & Food Systems, Vermont Law School
- Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program* - Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Information for Farmers and Growers
- *An interactive training session for the Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is required for all new farmers who wish to participate in the SFMNP. Interactive training may occur during an online training (such as those hosted during this Farmers Market/Direct-to-Consumer Workshops). Returning farmers at a minimum need to review the training slides available on the KDHE webpage (or watch the recording of this session). All farmers must submit an annual agreement to KDHE.
- From the Land of Kansas and the Central Registration for Kansas Farmers Markets - From the Land of Kansas
Additional Resources
Pet Treats
- Pet Treat Label Handout - What is required on a label? What does the label on your pet food product tell you?
- Pet Treat Label Video
Live Plants
- Live Plants
- Kansas Live Plant Dealer License Handout - What you need to know before landscaping, distributing, or selling plants in Kansas.
- Selling Live Plants in Kansas - Guidance for Farmers' Market Vendors