{first_name}'s Farmers Market Update - December 2020

Kansas State Research and Extension Options

From Spring into Fall, farmer's markets provide a variety of fresh produce as well as many other foods. Many people believe locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, locally raised meats such as pork and beef and home baked goods are completely safe.
Unfortunately, every year, several cases of foodborne illnesses are connected to sales of products at local farmer markets.
Fortunately, vendors have a friend in Kansas State Research and Extension.
KSRE offers information on Licensing and Food Safety as well as access to tools to help vendors such as the Kansas Value Added websites - Foods Lab, Meat Science and Grain products through the BIVAP program. These programs can help you evaluate your food products, they can help with labeling and much, much more.
Start by visiting K-State Research & Extension or reaching out directly to your local county Research & Extension agents.
Now is the time of year to start researching and taking advantage of the great resources offered by K-State to make 2021 your best Farmers Market Season yet.

When it comes to Farmers Markets, having a canopy that stands out with your brand can be a make or break. But although they are great for marketing, they can present a challenge when it comes to Kansas winds. A quick google search for weights for canopy and there are hundreds of ideas and products to secure your canopy.

From homemade buckets with concrete and ropes to sandbags layed on the feet, the opportunities for homemade ingenuity abound. Each presents a new challenge when it comes to storage, accessibility and the aesthetic look.
Professionally made weights can range from upright "pole huggers" to C type stackable weights can be very expensive and and not always the most convenient to store.

No matter which route you decide to go, planning in advance for Kansas wind gusts means additional thought and work prior to the first market of the season. Spend some extra time during the winter doing your research to find the solution that best suits your canopy!

December is a great time to relax and start making those plans for the upcoming Spring Farmers Market. It is also a great time to review lessons learned, re-evaluate setups and products, and make sure you have all the necessary inventory for the upcoming year.
A notebook or binder containing information to be used at the Farmers market is a great way to stay organized. But the scribble reminder sheets from week to week often get lost, fall out, or eventually thrown away off the floorboard of the transport vehicle.
This year, make a checklist in December and list all the items you you take to each market. Leave additional blank lines at the bottom of the list for future items. Laminate your list when complete. When the season starts, you can clip a dry erase marker to the laminated list to re-use each week, and then write in additional items you discovered you may need.

Mike is a Full Time Insurance Producer with Copeland Insurance Agency. Growing up in the Flint Hills, Mike was a 12 year 4-H member and has now passed that love down to his own children. Along with raising their own food, they also actively participate in multiple farmers markets each season. His knowledge of agricultural operations along with the financial margins involved with vendors at Farmers market helps Mike advocate and protect hard working individuals. Mike is a firm believer that insurance should be a partnership in risk management, not just an annual transaction. Mike can be reach on his cell phone at 785-210-6155.

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