Jefferson City — Farmers throughout Missouri and Kansas are invited to attend a Meet the Buyers event to meet local and regional food buyers. The event will take place March 15, 2016, at the Kansas State University Olathe  campus, 22201 College Blvd, Olathe, KS., from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

The event is a unique opportunity for farmers to meet with buyers one-on-one and learn what it takes to do business with the grocery and foodservice industries in the area.

Extension and industry representatives will present introductory information about Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs), Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the best commercial business practices to use between growers and various retail markets. GAPs are a set of recommendations that can help improve the quality and safety of the produce grown.

Representatives from a foodservice distributor, grocery retailer and school foodservice management company also will be on hand to share information on how those specific industries work and how farmers can tap into them.

Registration for the event is $20 and includes all event materials, a buffet lunch featuring several local and regional foods, and breaks. Due to limited seating registration is first come, first served.  Registration must be completed by March 8, 2016. To register online, visit www.mofb.org/Transactions/MeetTheBuyers.  If registrants encounter problems paying online, they’re instructed to contact Julie Waldrop at jwaldrop@mofb.com.

The following organizations are partnering to support the one-day event: Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Department of Agriculture, University of Missouri Extension, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas State University Research and Extension.

KC Meet the Buyers Event Agenda

Register Here!
Producers will be have a space to place their samples and/or information, while buyers have the opportunity to move around and connect with producers during the networking session. Producers and Buyers will be given different color name badges to ease in networking ventures.

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CONTACT:

Kelly Smith, Marketing & Commodities Director, Missouri Farm Bureau, 573-893-1416, kesmith@mofb.com

Lindsey Jones, Farm to School Coordinator, Missouri Department of Agriculture, 573-751-5019, Lindsey.Jones@mda.mo.gov

Nancy Brown, Asst. Director of Commodities, Kansas Farm Bureau, 785-587-6111, brownn@kfb.org