The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) will host a regional workshop at the Fisher Center in Hiawatha on Saturday, Feb. 22, 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, Wichita, Olathe, 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.

The keynote will feature tips on marketing and making a profit, and attendees will hear updates from KDA and KSRE along with a Farm to Institution panel discussion. KDA’s weights and measures program will also offer free scale certification at the workshops for attendees. Workshop topics will include:

• Produce Grower Panel
• Morel Mushroom Identification
• Regulations at Farmers’ Markets in Kansas
• Double Up Food Bucks Program and Accepting EBT
• Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Certified Farmer Training
• Sales Tax for Farmers’ Market Vendors

The workshop will be held at the Fisher Center, 201 E. Iowa St. in Hiawatha. Onsite registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 3:00 p.m.

Registration is now open at a cost $20 per participant to cover the cost of lunch. Lunch will only be guaranteed to those participants who register by February 14. Registration for the workshop, along with the other February regional farmers’ market workshops, can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop or at local extension offices.

For more information, contact Robin Blume, KDA’s education and events coordinator, at 785-564-6756 or robin.blume@ks.gov. The workshops are funded by the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, the Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, K-State Research and Extension, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture.