By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Purple Ribbon Marketplace is an initiative of the From the Land of Kansas program to help merchants sell that would normally do so at the Kansas State Fair.
"We would normally be at the state fair in the Pride of Kansas building selling a lot of our members' products," said Janelle Dobbins the Kansas Department of Agriculture's From the Land of Kansas Marketing Manager. "When the fair had to close this year, we looked for other opportunities and what we could do, so we decided to create this Purple Ribbon Marketplace, having an opportunity that our businesses could sell on the site. All those fairgoers could go on and shop and still get those great products, but this time just get them delivered to their door versus shopping for them at the fair."
From the Land of Kansas is the state trademark program.
"We're designed to promote and celebrate agricultural experiences and products grown, raised or produced in Kansas," Dobbins said. "That may be anything from seeing the logo on products being sold in a grocery store to helping someone get started at a farmer's market, all the way up to, some of our members are large enough, they are exporting outside the state."
A variety of Kansas products are offered through the Purple Ribbon Marketplace including popcorn, cheese, sunflower oil, coffee, spice and dip mixes, sauerkraut, and honey. A Kansas distillery will also be selling their hand sanitizer.
"One thing definitely we see across the board for all Kansas products is the pride that all of these businesses take in their products," Dobbins said. "A lot of them truly are hand packed, hand sealed. They're really fresh products."
Receive ½ off shipping with the code EARLYBIRD on Friday and receive some deals such as Buy 2, Get 1 Free. The Purple Ribbon Marketplace will remain live through September 20.