(Kansas City, MO) – Soon the Farmers Market will be bursting with all the delights that come with the season: bouquets of locally grown flowers, ruffled rows of greens, bunches of root veggies, mounds of herbs, and the selection will continue to expand each weekend. The growing season is upon us, and to celebrate, we’re giving away REUSABLE TOTE BAGS to the first 500 shoppers to visit the Farmers Market Information Tent at 5th & Walnut on Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7. Limit one per customer. Farmers Market hours are 8:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. through the end of October.
Visitors can grab a tote bag and get busy filling it with locally grown and handmade items from more than 100 Farmers Market vendors that make up our diverse offering of produce and food products. Many familiar favorites are returning like Pink Pony Farms (heirloom starter plants, native fruits, veg, eggs), Beautiful Day Farms (jams, jellies, sauces), Of The Earth Farm Distillery (spirits made from local produce), Beky Food (Venezuelan street food and desserts), and Ruby Jean’s Juicery (cold pressed juices) to name a few. New vendors will include Boundless KC (nutrient-dense microgreens), New Roots Hlu Thang (veggies, herbs, flowers), MO Mushrooms (fresh lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms and mushroom products), Bee KC (local honey and honey products), and several more. Additional vendors will likely join throughout the season as Farmers Market Manager Paula Stocker receives applications from local growers and makers throughout the region.
In addition to traditional vendors, River Market Flea will join the Farmers Market Sunday, April 7. After several successful popup events last fall and winter, shoppers can now browse a selection of popular vintage apparel and accessory vendors every Sunday through October. Art on Walnut will also return on Sundays beginning April 7; this rotation of local artists is curated by Art Garden KC.
Farmers Market visitors can also look forward to the Missouri Wines Sampling Series where they can taste, learn about, and purchase wines from featured local producers throughout the season. (Samplers and purchasers must be at least 21 years of age with a valid ID.)
Another great addition is the League of Women Voters of Kansas City, Jackson, Platte & Clay Counties. They’re joining the Farmers Market to get all things VOTING done for Missourians every weekend through Nov. 3. Missouri residents can register, update records, and more at this convenient, non-partisan service focused on promoting an educated and empowered electorate.
Throughout the growing season, Sporting KC, proud Farmers Market sponsor, will pop up here and there with engaging soccer-centric activities and ticket and merch giveaways. Our earth-friendly edutainer, Eco Elvis, will perform periodically. He’s proof that Elvis isn’t dead; he’s just been recycled, and he’ll get everyone all shook up about Planet Earth.
Already operating during the Farmers Market, our Guest Services walk-up window located in the southeast corner of City Market Square serves as the business office for customers needing assistance. Shoppers participating in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can purchase tokens to spend with Farmers Market vendors who accept SNAP tokens to purchase produce and prepared foods. SNAP tokens can be purchased at Guest Services for $1 each with a SNAP/EBT debit card. Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) tokens are also available at Guest Services at no charge and extend SNAP benefits up to $25 as a dollar-for-dollar match which translates to up to an extra $25 dollars to spend on fresh fruits and veggies from Farmers Market vendors per market day!
City Market’s website features a vendor search function and an interactive map that shows which vendors will be at the market as they confirm their market dates so you can always find your favorites and anything special on your shopping list.
The Farmers Market is sponsored by Optum a healthcare delivery network of physicians and healthcare facilities. Optum is dedicated to health, wellness, nutrition and access in our community. Look for Dr. Lee Norman, Senior Medical Director of Optum Kansas City, in-person at the Farmers Market and with healthy tips and fresh ideas in City Market News.
