Farmers market season starts this weekend in Wichita with a focus on chefs, cooking

Another sure sign of spring — Farmers market season is about to get underway in Wichita.

One of Wichita’s two main markets — the Kansas Grown Farmers Market at the Sedgwick County Extension Center at 21st and Ridge — will launch its season on Saturday. The popular Old Town Farmers’ Market will launch its outdoor season in two weeks — on April 20.

Both markets will start with crops like asparagus, lettuce, spinach and herbs, and both will put an emphasis this year on demonstrations lead by local chefs who will help shoppers learn what to do with the produce once they get it home.

Here’s a look at what’s coming up for Wichita’s farmers markets this year.

KANSAS GROWN FARMERS MARKET

7 a.m. to noon, Saturdays through Oct. 26, 7001 W. 21st St.

The popular west-side market, now in its 29th year, will have its usual lineup of vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, jams, jellies, eggs and meats, said Tricia Holmes, the president of the market’s board of directors.

And, as usual, the market’s calendar is filled with special themed days that draw big crowds. Herb Day, for example, is on May 4 this year, and Tomato Fest is on July 27.

Tomatoes likely won’t start showing up until late May or early June, but another focus of the market this year is to teach people that the farmers market is “more than just tomatoes,” Holmes said.

They’ve asked chef and cookbook author Krista Sanderson of Eat Real America to be the official Kansas Grown chef, and starting on May 4, she’ll be in the Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden every Saturday at 9 a.m., putting on a cooking demonstration. Those who attend will learn how to make recipes using the market’s produce bounty — and they’ll get to sample the recipe.

Each week, the market also will offer live music and food trucks, Holmes said.

It all wraps up on Oct. 26 with Stone Soup Day, where market managers gather up end-of-the-season vegetables from vendors and turn them into several massive pots of soup that all attendees get to try.

For more information on the Kansas grown market, visit kansasgrowninc.com.

OLD TOWN FARMERS’ MARKET

7 a.m. to noon, Saturdays through the end of August, 8 a.m. to noon September through Oct. 26, Old Town Farm & Art Market, First and Mosley

In their third year managing the Old Town Market, Luke and Amy Snow of FarmShop are continuing their focus on sustainable agriculture grown with no synthetics, Luke Snow said.

“That is the one thing that separates Old Town from other markets in town, and those are the types of farmers and food artisans we attract,” he said.

This year’s market will also have an increased food truck presence. Snow said he plans to invite three or four to set up each week, and he’s issuing his invitations to food trucks that are committed to using local ingredients — trucks like Nora’s Kitchen, Kind Kravings and Against the Grain.

The Old Town Market also will have weekly cooking demonstrations, which will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. and feature chefs from local restaurants showing how to cook with things for sale at the market.

The market also is branching out this year with a new satellite market. Starting on May 7, FarmShop will be putting on a weekly Tuesday-night market at Goddard’s Linear Park, near the new splash pad. The event will last from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday nights through October, and it will also feature farmers and food trucks.

For more information on the Old Town Farmers Market, visit www.oldtownfarmersmarket.com.

Other farmers markets

Kansas Grown in Derby: An offshoot of the Kansas Grown market happens from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays from May 4 to Sept. 28 at Central Park, 512 Madison in Derby.

Kansas Grown at Whole Foods: This market will happen from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays startng May 1 and running through Sept. 15 at the Whole Foods at 1423 N. Webb.

Goddard Farmers Market by FarmShop: A new market by the managers of the Old Town Farmers Market is happening from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays starting on May 7 at Goddard’s Linear Park, 108 N. Main.

Green Acres Market, Bradley Fair: This store’s market happens from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays from May 7 through Sept. 10.

Lincoln Heights Farmers Market: This one runs from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday mornings from May 1 through October at the shopping center at Douglas and Oliver.