No pun intended, but east-siders and beyond ‘were very hungry’ for this market

For decades, west Wichita has been the go-to for the largest farmers market in the area with the Kansas Grown Farmers Market at the extension center at 21st and Ridge Road.

Now, the group is preparing to cater to east-siders and Andover residents with a second market at the Heritage development just northeast of Andover Road and Kellogg.

“They were very hungry for a farmers market, and they were quite excited to welcome us,” said Kansas Grown president Cydney Phillips.

Heritage developer Jerry Jones said the market “will be a wonderful attraction . . . that we expect will serve Andover, east Wichita and the other surrounding communities.”

Kansas Grown, which incorporated in 1989, has grown steadily throughout the decades and now has between 100 and 125 vendors during its March through October season.

Phillips said the new market at the Heritage likely will start with more like 20 vendors.

“We’ll grow as the season continues.”

Ideally, she said, there will be 30 or 40 by the end of the season.

The east market season will be a little shorter, at least this first year.

It will start May 23 and wrap up Sept. 26.

The west market starts the first weekend in March, weather permitting, and goes through the end of October.

For anyone who’s never been to the west market, Phillips said, “We have just a little bit of everything.”

That includes seasonal produce, a variety of meat, baked goods, honey, salsa, jam, crafts and “all of the things,” Phillips said.

She said she hopes to have the same mix of offerings at the east market, too.

Phillips said all farmers markets have barriers to entry.

With Kansas Grown, “All of your products have to be made and produced in the state of Kansas.”

To check vendor prices and other information, visit www.kansas-grown.com.

As a vendor herself selling honey through the Juniper Clay Canning Co., Phillips said she’s learned that “farmers markets vending is definitely not for the faint of heart.”

She said she thinks the market at the Heritage will be a good place for some vendors to get their start, though.

“Andover just seemed like the perfect fit.”

Phillips said the Kellogg visibility is great, too.

She said a previous Kansas Grown market in Derby didn’t remain open because “the market just wasn’t growing like we were hoping it would.”

Previous Andover markets by other groups didn’t last either.

“We haven’t really had anything stick before,” said Andover public information officer Megan Schapaugh.

“We’re just excited to finally have something like this that we really think will be successful.”

She said it’s a great way to introduce people to the Heritage development and its town square for Andover, which is the plaza where part of the market will be held.

The city already has thrown a large festival there, and Phillips said Kansas Grown will throw events in addition to the market.

For instance, she’s already working on the popular kids day event that the west market has each year with a petting zoo, face painters and other attractions.

There’s no date set for that yet, but the west market kids day will be June 6, and its well-known Tomato Day is July 25.

Phillips said she’d love for the Heritage market to reach the west market’s size, and she doesn’t think it will take three decades to do it.

Schapaugh said she hopes people from all of Andover’s surrounding communities come to the new market and see that “there’s plenty to do in our small little community.”