November 5, 2026 | Claire Sinovic
When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? If it’s food, you’re in good company! Turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, mashed potatoes, or maybe a family recipe that makes its way to the table year after year. For me, that’s homemade pasta. First, we make capaletti, a hat-shaped pasta filled with beef and pork, tightly folded and served in a savory homemade chicken broth. Then comes traditional lasagna, flat wide noodles, layered with a hearty, cheesy meat sauce. These traditions bring everyone together around the kitchen counter, sharing stories, lending a hand, and making memories. Food has that unique way of connecting us. It carries family traditions, creates new memories, and reminds us of the people and places we love.
Sometimes forgotten, are the people behind the ingredients who help bring each meal to life. Local farmers, ranchers, bakers, makers, and small businesses work year-round to grow, raise, and prepare the food that nourishes our communities. The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their work and bring a little more local goodness to your family table.
From holiday proteins and seasonal vegetables to fresh-baked breads and sweet treats, below you can explore the local farms and businesses offering it all this holiday season. You’ll also find our area’s best holiday farmers markets where you can grab a warm beverage and shop for the special feasts you’re planning. Last but not least, we’ve even included a few special local gift ideas! Enjoy and happy holidays!
Mains, Proteins & Protein Alternatives
David’s Pasture raises their chickens and turkeys outside on green pastures with regular moves to ensure they get all the bugs and fresh forage they can handle. Available products include Whole Turkeys (10-18 lbs), Whole Chickens (4-6 lbs) and Chicken Cuts. Order online at davidspasture.com. Feel free to call them at 816-633-2411 with questions! Delivery and on-farm pickup options are available.
Farrar Family Farm is a grass-based regenerative farm that raises turkeys, chickens, cows, pigs, and sheep. You can order their grass-fed and pasture-raised meats from their Online Store. They offer home delivery around the KC metro as well as several community pick up points. They offer a variety of meats for your weekly menu as well as several items to feature for your holiday meals: turkey breasts or thighs, brisket, pork belly or loin roasts, hams, whole chicken, leg of lamb, beef roasts or ribs, tenderloin, and more! You can learn more about their farming practices and view their products HERE.
Franklin General Store is located in Shawnee, KS at 11405 Johnson Dr. They sell only locally grown or produced items and everything has clean ingredients. They source from over 70 farmers/small businesses from across KS and MO year round and for the holiday season they’ll have limited edition holiday flavors or items such as ice cream, breads, soups, crochet items, and more. Looking for main dish energy? They also have a full line of beef, chicken, pork, and turkey cuts from local, sustainable farmers who raise their animals humanely. And if you’re looking for a unique gift for the local food lover in your life, they even have gift certificates available and can help create an original gift basket with items in store (basket available for additional charge).
Visit Franklin’s weekdays 10am-6pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm. The parking lot is located on Flint St, to the side of the store. Please contact the store with any questions! Call: 913.631.6593 or email: franklingeneralstoreks@gmail.com
MyCo Planet is a woman-owned, organic mushroom farm in North Kansas City dedicated to sustainable, indoor cultivation of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms make a great meat alternative and are the only non-meat source of Vitamin D. Get them this holiday season for your main dish or a side! Their products include mixed oyster, lion’s mane, and shiitake. Order by emailing mycoplanetkc@gmail.com or calling 833-419-6926. Pick up on farm M-F 9-4 at 1534 Burlington St, North Kansas City, MO 64116
Salmon Enterprises offers beef that is raised on grass and given grain daily to promote excellent marbling and flavor. Their products include a wide variety of beef cuts, including prime rib. Order by emailing salmonenterprises5@gmail.com or visiting salmonenterprisesllc.com. Delivery available.
Side Dishes and Desserts
Fair Share Farm offers live-culture vegetable ferments that are produced on their farm using farm-raised and locally sourced ingredients. They also offer raw vinegars, made in their on-farm vinegar production facility. These live-culture fermented krauts, pickles and kimchis are a nutritious and healthy addition to any holiday buffet and all of their products make great gifts for those local food lovers in your life!
Pick up your Fair Share Ferments at the following Holiday Markets:
- Brookside Farmers Market – 11/21, 12/12 and 12/19 from 9am-12pm
- Farm School at Gibbs Road Market – 11/23 from 3-6pm
- Overland Park Farmers Market – 11/7 and 11/21 from 8am-12pm with possible December dates as well, so please check back for updates!
Farmyard KC has freshly frozen ginger, turmeric, and elderberries along with music garlic, heirloom ground cornmeal, and dried elderflower available this holiday season. These unique locally grown flavors are instant crowdpleasers, sure to spruce up your holiday cocktail or help you create a bold new take on your favorite traditional holiday side dish!
Contact Farmer Mickey for pickup at Casa Somerset B&B or ask for a delivery option. Email at Mickey@farmyardkc.com or call/text at 309-212-5937
Pat & Rachel’s Gardens is a USDA certified organic farm and kitchen located in Olathe, KS. This holiday season they’ll have vegan, allergen free soups, jams, freeze dried herbs, salad dressing mixes and pickled products available for purchase. Each of these items make a great addition to any holiday feast and can also be given as thoughtful gifts for the special someone in your life! Additionally, they will have a variety of fresh produce available including butternut squash. Stock up on all their delicious products at the Overland Park and Brookside Farmers market, every Saturday!
Humble Homestead Catering is a family owned business offering meal prep and catering scratch made with organic ingredients and freshly milled flour from local farms along with their farm raised eggs! They offer a variety of meals for every type of diet including vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and meat eaters. Their meals are made to order each week with fresh ingredients delivered straight to your door. They never use preservatives, seed oils, GMOs, or any other artificial ingredients. This holiday season, Humble Homestead is offering a selection of pies, cookies, cakes, freshly milled flour along with many other offerings.
Minimum for an order is $150 with pick up or delivery available.
Email hello@humblehomesteadcatering.com to order yours today!
Wheat Steak is a small batch artisanal sourdough bakery. They source their flour from Stone and Sparrow Farm and Mill in Melvern, KS, who specializes in utilizing regenerative agricultural methods to grow and mill ancient grains. Wheat Steak focuses on slow fermented European style sourdough using an artisanal traditional approach. Their holiday bundle provides all your fermented feasting needs! Each bundle includes a flight of small sourdough boules (Classic, Whole Wheat and German Rye), sourdough stuffing, a dozen sourdough dinner rolls, herb sourdough crackers and our sourdough seeded crunch (great for topping salads or casseroles!).
Preorder your bundle here: https://www.wheatsteak.com/online-ordering/p/holiday-sourdough-bundle-1
Deadline to order: Nov 22nd for Thanksgiving & December 21st for Christmas
You can pick up your pre-ordered bundle at Brooks Family Farm Store in Downtown Lee’s Summit the day before Thanksgiving 10am-2pm! (Christmas pickup TBD)
Please contact Wheatsteak@gmail.com with any questions.
Holiday Farmers Markets
For a festive holiday shopping experience, check out these local farmers markets featuring special holiday events and vendors. Stock up on local ingredients, plus unique gifts and crafts from area farmers and makers (including many of our KC Food Circle farmers market members).
The Brookside Farmers Market will be hosting a Holiday Market on Dec. 19th and is also operating throughout the winter at HJ’s Community Center for all your local food needs! Located at 6425 Wornall Rd., KCMO the winter markets are open from 9-12 and held indoors. Parking is great and vendors are always happy to see you!
November dates include – November 7th (last outdoor market), November 21st (first indoor market)
December dates include – December 5th, 12th, and 19th
Beyond the holidays, they also operate every other week in January, February and March from 9-12 and those dates are:
- January 2nd, 16th and 30th
- February 13th and 27th
- March 13th and 27th
City Market’s Merry Market happens from 10am- 4pm every Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, rain or shine. Free and open to the public, this is an extraordinary, open-air holiday shopping experience featuring Kansas City’s best all-local artisans and vendors, curated by Art Garden KC.
KC Farm School’s Annual Holiday Market will be held on Nov. 23rd from 3-6pm.Offering SNAP benefits and matching funds through Double Up Food Bucks as well as a pay what you’re able pricing system, this market features local vendors, music, food, drinks and games all in a cozy greenhouse setting.
Lenexa’s Annual Holiday Farmers Market is Nov. 21st (10am-1pm) and Dec. 19th (10am-1pm) inside Lenexa City Hall. Load up on all your holiday goodies! Everything from meat, handmade pies and cheesecake to wine, jams and jellies, body care products and treats for your favorite pet. SNAP benefits accepted.
Mission Market is holding a special pop up Holiday Market featuring local vendors! It’s all happening at their Holiday Lights and Festive Sights event on December 4th from 6-8:30pm in the parking lot of the Powell Community Center. Along with holiday shopping, the evening will feature visits with Santa, the Mayor’s Tree Lighting, food trucks, family friendly activities and plenty of holiday cheer.
The Lawrence Holiday Farmers Market will be Saturday, December 12th from 9am-4pm in the Indoor Arena at the Douglas County Fairgrounds (1930 Harper St. Lawrence, KS. 66046). Join in for this beloved annual event featuring local food, crafts, a chance to visit with Santa, festive entertainment, and so much more! SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and Double Up Protein Bucks accepted.
Lee’s Summit Farmers Market Holiday Mart will feature four festive shopping dates this season: November 14th, November 28th, December 5th, and December 19th, from 10am to 2pm. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts, seasonal treats, and artisan goods from our talented local vendors.
Overland Park Farmers Market will hold a Market on November 21st from 8 AM – 12 PM, perfect timing for Thanksgiving feast and Holiday Markets will run Saturdays Dec 5th-19th from 8am-12pm with local foods and unique specialty products. Winter markets will resume Saturdays, January 9th to March 22nd. No markets on November 28th or December 26th.
The Perfect Local Gift: Cookbook by Walnut Pond Agriculture & Discovery Center
If you’re looking for a special gift and another way to support local farmers this holiday season, check out this brand new cookbook that features local and seasonal ingredients!
KC Food Circle Member, Walnut Pond Farm, is proud to introduce Gather as it Grows, a farm-to-table cookbook offered by subscription in print and digital, with 20 or more new seasonal recipes every month. The print edition comes in a beautiful linen binder with pockets for tucking in your own recipes, plus page holders and monthly indexes showing what’s in season, both locally and nationally. Every purchase supports Walnut Pond’s farm education work. It launches on December 4th and makes a perfect gift for anyone who loves cooking with fresh, local food.
Holiday Gift Bags & More
Beyond the book, Walnut Pond is also offering holiday gift bags and local gift combos. For the grill master, there’s a trio pack of barbecue rubs, a Hedley & Bennett apron, Stubborn Mule Barn Burner barbecue sauce, and Stubborn Mule Island Kicker, a spicy pineapple sauce. For the baker, there’s Walnut Pond honey, their Reserve Bourbon Vanilla Extract, a Gather as it Grows Sur La Table smock apron, and a farmers market grocery bag, available with or without a gift card for a cookbook subscription.
The cookbook and gift bags will be available through Walnut Pond’s retail page at agdiscoverycenter.com, where they’ll also be featuring naturally raised chicken, pork, beef and lamb. Check back often to see what’s on offer!
Choosing to shop locally, whether it be year round or for the holidays, is a great way to invest in our farmers, our local economy and the health of our communities. KC Food Circle members pour time, care, and integrity into everything they produce. They pledge to follow ecological, sustainable, and humane practices for growing produce and raising animals, which means you can always feel good about your purchases and the food you share with the people you love.
As you gather around the table with family and friends this season, we here at The Food Circle are wishing you a holiday that’s overflowing with good food, good cheer, and plenty of locally-sourced ingredients fresh from our area’s dedicated farmers and food purveyors.
More Ways to Support Local
Check out all our KC Food Circle members by heading to our Member Directory and find those nearest you on the Eat Local Map.
Consider making a donation to The Food Circle to help us support farmers and inform eaters 💚
Peace, Love & Happy Holidays to all!