Savor the Season 2012

As previously reported, the Kansas Rural Center was awarded a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Kansas Department of Agriculture to expand the Our Local Food and the Savor the Season (StS) program.  In 2009 and 2010 the StS program featured several spring, summer, and fall crops including chard, beets, cantaloupe, and acorn squash on colorful cards. A complete list of crops featured in '09 and '10 can be found at ksfarmersmarkets.org.  Cards featured selection, storage, and preparation tips along with a recipe on the back side.  With the grant, new cards will be developed introducing ten additional crops.  As with previous years, the new 2012 cards will be offered at participating farmers markets across Kansas. 

This year the program will not only feature 10 new crops and recipes to be published on these colorful cards, but will offer production and marketing guides for at least five crops as well as educational opportunities such as webinars and farm tours.  Eligible Kansas farmers' markets will also benefit from mini-grants and cost share programs to help promote specialty crops at the market. 

To prepare for StS 2012, market farmers and managers are needed to help us narrow down our list to 10 crops.  A short survey, available below, will allow us to prioritize the crops you see being stars in 2012!

Savor the Season 2012 Survey

The survey will be open until Dec. 13 and the selections will be announced on Dec. 21 at ksfarmersmarket.org and ourlocalfoodks.org.  More information on how your market or farm stand can participate in Savor the Season 2012 will be available in January.  For questions contact Natalie Fullerton at southcentral.olf@gmail.com or 402-310-0177.