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Resources

A variety of resources exist in Lawrence and Kansas to help you launch and grow your food business.

Licensing, Food Production, and Food Safety

K-State Research and Extension—Douglas County

Food Safety Training
Susan Johnson can work with you to schedule basic training to build your food safety knowledge and practices.
 
Douglas County Master Food Volunteers
The Douglas County Master Food Volunteers Program provides education on food safety, food science, food preparation, and food preservation.  After completing the training, volunteers are required to provide 40 hours of education and service to give back to the community.  This is a great way to get engaged in the local food community!
 
Susan Johnson, County Extension Agent
susanjohnson@ksu.edu | 785-843-7058

 

Kansas Department of Agriculture—Department of Food Safety

The Kansas Department of Food Safety provides information about obtaining a business license to sell food, the current Kansas Food Code, and other food safety protocol.
 
Incubator Kitchen Resource Guide, a directory of the available incubator kitchens (including Culinary Commons) throughout the state of Kansas.
 
Steve Moris, Program Manager of Food Safety and Lodging
steve.moris@kda.ks.gov | 785-564-6767
 

Kansas Value Added Foods Lab

The Kansas Value Added Foods Lab can help you develop your product safely and under current health regulations.  Resources at here include a “How-To” guide to selling at a Farmer’s Market, methods developing new food products, and FDA regulations essential to your food business.
 
Dr. Fadi Armani, Kansas Food “Process Authority” on low acid and acidified foods
Dr. Armani can provide you with educational programs on Good Manufacturing Practices, sanitation, and recalls.  He also can deliver one-on-one assistance for development and implementation of food processing programs.
aramouni@k-state.edu | 785-532-1668
 
Dr. Elizabeth Boyle, Extension Meat Specialist
Dr. Boyle can work with you to enhance the quality and safety of meat products.  She can also provide scientific and technical assistance for meat processing.
lboyle@k-state.edu | 785-532-1247
 

Business Planning & Marketing

KU Small Business Development Center

Located in downtown Lawrence, the KU Small Business Development Center helps with the growth of small businesses in Kansas.  They can provide you with free one-on-one consultations to help you understand your costs, organize your record keeping, and plan for smart business growth. 
646 Vermont St., Ste. 200 Lawrence, Ks 66044 | 785-843-8844
 
Brian Dennis, Consultant
 
Will Katz, Regional Director
 

From the Land of Kansas

A state-wide branding program from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, From the Land of Kansas provides business development tips and marketing assistance for food entrepreneurs. Upon joining From the Land of Kansas, members will receive help promoting their Kansas products. 
 
Janelle Dobbins, From the Land of Kansas Marketing Manager
 

KDA Farmers’ Market Booklet

This is a publication provided by the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) to give small business owners a crash course in the regulation and practices of selling at a Farmer’s Market, through a CSA, farm stand, or any other direct to consumer sale in the state of Kansas.

https://agriculture.ks.gov/docs/default-source/fsl--handouts/farmers-markets-in-kansas-regulation-booklet-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=2

 
Food Safety at Farmers' Markets
K-State Research and Extension in accordance with the KDA provides food safety resources for you to properly combat foodborne illness when selling at a farmer's market.

Douglas County Farmers’ Markets

Douglas County has five farmers market where you can sell your product:

Saturday Market: April 9th -August 27th
824 New Hampshire Lawrence, KS 66044
7:00am-11:00am
Tuesday Market: May 3rd – October 25th
Lawrence Public Library - 707 Vermont St. Lawrence, KS 66044
4:00pm – 6:00pm
 
Cottin’s (Lawrence)
Cottin’s Hardware & Rental
1832 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, Ks 66044
Thursdays Outdoor Farmers’ Market: May 5th – September 29th
4:00pm – 6:30pm
Thursdays Indoor Farmers’ Market: November 5th – April 28th
4:00pm-6:00pm
 
Clinton Parkway (Lawrence)
Clinton Parkway Nursery
4900 Clinton Parkway (Corner of Clinton Pkwy & Wakarusa) Lawrence, Ks
785-842-3081
Wednesdays:
4:30pm-6:30pm
 
Gene’s Heartland Foods
1402 Church St, Eudora, Ks 66025
Tuesdays:
4:30pm-6:30pm
 
24 HWY and Ferguson Rd. (in the FastTrax Parking Lot) Perry, Ks 66073
Fridays:
4:00pm-6:00pm
Eric Youngquist (Market Manager)

Slow Money Northeast Kansas

Slow Money Northeast Kansas is an organization that supports local farmers and food entrepreneurs.  The “slow money” idea means providing low-interest loans to local businesses that feed the community healthy, safe, agriculturally-sustainable, locally-grown foods. Slow Money Northeast Kansas aims to connect local investors to food entrepreneurs to keep money local and provide “patient capita".
slowmoneynekansas.org | slowmoneynekansas@gmail.com

Douglas County Food Policy Council

Douglas County’s Food Policy Council is a political advisory group to the City of Lawrence and Douglas County Commissions, composed of a group of appointed local stakeholders committed to improving access to local food supply and distribution networks.  The Food Policy Council worked with Culinary Commons entrepreneurs in 2013 to improve kitchen policies to better suit the needs of users, and led the re-branding of the kitchen in 2015 to become Culinary Commons.
 
Helen Schnoes, Food Systems Coordinator in Douglas County