Survey link at bottom of page.
In late October, the Kansas Rural Center was awarded a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Kansas Department of Agriculture to expand the Savor the Season Program. Numerous groups recognize the value of the Savor the Season program to Kansas farmers, markets and consumers and signed on as project collaborators:
- K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Vegetable Growers Association will team-up to develop packets that include relevant resources and specific guidance on production, post-harvest handling, and marketing for at least five new Savor the Season crops. Teams consisting of a KSRE Hort Agent and an experienced grower will also offer presentations, webinars or farm tour/field day for each crop.
- KSRE Family and Consumer Science Agents, Kansas Master Food Volunteers and chefs will collaborate on recipe development and selection, analyzing nutrition information, and provide the selection, storage and prep tips for each crop.
- Kansas farmers markets will be eligible to apply for mini-grants and cost shares to promote specialty crops at their markets and will received news release templates, FYI sheets and the colorful Savor the Season crop cards.
- KSRE's Rapid Response Center will work with KRC to develop consumer-focused food safety information to help your shoppers maintain the high quality of your fruits and vegetables once they've been purchased.
KDA received 19 Specialty Crop Block Grant proposals covering a wide variety of food safety, local food and horticulture research, extension and outreach efforts. Altogether, the requests for funding add up to just more than $1.08 million. USDA AMS allocated $273,616.54 to KDA to fund proposals. Award announcements were made in October.
In 2010, KRC worked with K-State Extension and experienced producers to present information on growing that year's selected fruits and vegetables at the Kansas Farmers Market Conference on January 30 in Emporia. Please visit the Producers Resource Page to download presentation and resource information from the conference.
More than 30 markets participated in the Savor the Season program during its two previous operating years. To see previously highlighted crops, check out the program retrospective here.
Information on how your farmers market or on-farm stand can participate in the program will be available in January.
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Facebook Savor the Season Badge
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Savor the Season: Eating by the Calendar in Kansas has its very own Facebook Page with over 700 fans. Click on the Facebook Badge to view the page and become a fan, too!
Can you spare five minutes to help prioritize which ten crops to feature in the 2012 Savor the Season program?
Take the Market Farmer Survey. Survey Closed
Take the Market Farmer Survey. Survey Closed
The survey closes on December 13 and the 2012 selections will be announced on December 21–in time for farmers to get seeds ordered!
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