Released: March 16, 2004

Certified Kitchen Workshop Planned For Kansas Businesses, Producers

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Training in how to start up a Kansas-certified kitchen will be available for individuals and companies on April 3.

The certified kitchen workshop, to be held in the Kansas City area, is being organized by the Guided Explorations of Value-Added Products and Enterprises project, a cooperative effort of the Kansas Rural Center, Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops and K-State Research and Extension. It is underwritten by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.

In order to protect public safety, the Kansas Food Code has specific processing and facility requirements for the manufacture of processed foods. Kansas producers considering a value-added enterprise such as processing the products they grow, can learn more about how to comply with the requirements for an inspected and approved facility, often called a certified kitchen.

“There are so many people who want to supplement their farm income by making value-added foods from their farm produce,” said Karen Pendleton, project coordinator and owner of Pendleton’s Country Market in Lawrence. “Most producers want to process those products in the proper way and want to know and meet guidelines and regulations before they start.”

Farmers, processors, educators and researchers will be on hand to discuss necessary equipment, food safety, labeling and rules and regulations. Participants will also have an opportunity to take a firsthand look at a certified kitchen during a tour of the facilities at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

The registration fee is $10 and must be received by March 27. For more information, contact Pendleton at (785) 843-1409 or email karenp@pendletons.com .

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Lisa Solomon
lms4577@ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News