Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association, in collaboration with Kansas Farmers Union, is offering a virtual workshop and in-person tour program highlighting two Kansas growers’ evolution from small-scale, word-of-mouth production and sales to building operations and reach as leaders in evolving regional food systems. Participants may register and attend any or all of the April 9 events depending on their interest and availability. The events will give growers opportunities to see the real-life planning, practices, equipment, and infrastructure development that’s gone into their expansion and the food safety considerations faced at each step of their growth—and point them in the right direction in their own planning processes.
The April 9 workshop and tours feature both online and in-person opportunities for participation. Participants may register and attend the entire day’s activities or individual activities fitting their interest.
10:00-11:30am: Online workshop featuring grower partners (Zoom access info distributed prior to events)
1:00-2:30pm: In-person tour of RISE Farm-Wichita (see more info and map below)
4:00-5:30pm: In-person tour of Teck Farms-Hutchinson (see more info and map below)
RISE-Firefly Farm: Located in the heart of downtown Wichita, RISE Farms is an exciting rooftop urban ag development in partnership with Firefly Farm and Fidelity Bank.
15,000-square-foot outdoor and indoor cultivation area
204-panel solar farm
Innovative, efficient, and interconnected cultivation, irrigation, and processing features
moving toward supplying on-site restaurants and integration in a regional food system.
Teck Farms: Teck’s Hutchinson operations include:
an array of regenerative (and certified organic) practices
high tunnel and outdoor production
taking a proactive role in building supply and distribution channels for local schools and other venues—integrating safety practices and licenses into their vision for strengthening their regional food system
a 501(c)(3) offshoot organization dedicated to educating consumers and growers in healthy local foods.
Please register for event(s)—but if you find yourself wanting to particpate at the last minute, here’s the Zoom access info:
Meeting ID: 840 0378 1675
Passcode: 226629
RISE Rooftop Farm is located on the top floor of the Fidelity Bank RISE parking garage at 320 S Market St in downtown Wichita. Public parking is on the ground floor, accessible from both S Market St and E Waterman St. Additional parking will be provided as needed.
Teck Farms is located at 1241 Hendricks St in Hutchinson, KS—an app 1-hour drive from the Wichita tour site—with the schedule allowing for travel time for those wishing to participate in both in-person tours.
(Note: Some map app’s may place you off-course with this address. Teck Farms is located on the NW quadrant/corner of N Hendricks Street and W 12th Avenue—on the north side of Hutchinson.)
This event is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $25,000 received from National Farmers Union with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit FDA.gov.